LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

Chap. CopjrigMlo;. 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



AN OUTLINE 



OK 



BIBLE HISTORY 



^ 



BY 



B. S. DKAN, A. 1>A. 

Professor of Hirtory in Hiram College. 



CINCINNATI 

THE STANDARD PUBLISHING COMPANl? 

Publishers of Christian Literatvre 




> \ 



A 






Copyrighted 1894, by 
The Standard Pubhsh ng Company. 



PREFACE. 



This little work is not a Bible History. It is what its 
name imports — An Outline of Bible History. For a more 
complete exhibit of the most wondrous of all histories, the 
reader is referred to the many larger works which enrich 
our libraries ; and above all, to the Bible itself. 

Yet this work aims to be more than a bare analysis. 
Minor events are omitted, that important ones may stand 
out in bold relief. I^esser characters are silent, that great 
characters may speak. The aim has been so to select and 
coordinate the events as to make the story real and vivid, 
as well as clear and connected. It is not meant to displace 
the Bible. On the contrary, it is so written that the text 
of Scripture needs to be continually consulted, while fre- 
quent reference will need to be made to the maps in the 
appendix. 

The work was originally prepared as notes of lectures 
to advanced Preparatory students in Hiram College. In 
rewriting for publication, the original purpose has not been 
lost sight of, while the larger world of busy Bible students 
in the Sunday-school and the home, has been held continu- 
ally in view. It is believed that the work may also prove 
of service to Sunday-school Normal Classes, and to Y. M. C. 
A. and Y. W. C. A. workers. 



iv AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY, 

In an elementary work, questions of criticism would be 
clearly out of place. Familiarity with the Bible facts must 
precede critical consideration. 

That to many earnest students of the Word this little 
volume may serve as an incentive and a stepping stone to 
larger study of the world's one great Book, is my sincere 
prayer and hope. B. S. D. 

Hiram Coi^lbg^, Ohio, October, 1894. 



i. 



kit. 



CONTENTS. 



INTRODUCTION. 

Why study Bible History ? Object of Bible History— Ages of Bible 
History — Periods of Old Testament History I 

PART FIRST. 

OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY. 

CHAPTER I.-ANTEDILUVIAN PERIOD. 

The Book of Genesis Genesis of the Universe — Genesis of Order — 
Genesis of Sin— Echoes of Creation and the Fall— Genesis of 
Sacrifice— Line of Cain — Line of Seth — The Apostasy and 
Deluge 6 

CHAPTER II.— POST-DILUVIAN PERIOD. 

The Second Beginning— Genesis of the Nations— Tower of Babel 
and Confusion of Tongues — Generations of Shem and Genesis 
of the Hebrews. 15 

CHAPTER III— PATRIARCHAL PERIOD. 

Introductory : Mission of the Hebrews. I. Life of Abraham. — 

I. The Wanderings : Early Home at Ur— The Call and Cov- 
enant—Migration to Haran— Death of Terah— Migration to Ca- 
naan—Wanderings in Canaan— Separation from Lot, 2. Settled 
Life at Hebron : Chaldean Invasion— Marriage with Hagar and 
birth of Ishmael— Circumcision— Destruction of Sodom— Res- 
cue of Lot and Origin of Moab and Ammon— Birth and Offer- 
ing of Isaac— Death of Sarah. II. Life and Character of 
Isaac- Characteristics— Overshadowed by Abraham and Jacob 
—Marries Rebekeh— Twin Sons, Esau and Jacob. III. History 
of Jacob.— I. Jacob the Supplanter : The Extorted Birthright 



Vi AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

—The Stolen Blessing^— Flight to Haran, and Vision and Vow 
at Bethel— Marries I^eah and Rachel— Return to Canaan— Ap- 
proach of Esau— Jacob's Night at Peniel, 2. Israel the Prince : 
Peaceful Meeting with Esau — Pilgrimage to Bethel— Birth of 
Benjamin and Death of Rachel— Return to Hebron- 7* _iiily 
Troubles— Joseph Sold- I,ast Days in Egypt. IV. History of 
Joseph. — I. His Youth in Canaan: His Father's Favoritism— 
His Brothers' Hatred— Sold into Egypt. 2. His Manhood in 
Egypt: Slave Life— Prison I,ife— Courtier Life— The Famine — 
Visit of His Brothers— Joseph's Forgiveness— Integrity of Char- 
acter—Compared with Abraham. V. The Book of Job. — 
Patriarchal Drapery— Prose Prologue and Epilogue — Body of 
Book, Poetic— Problem of Book — Purpose of Book. Note : 
Characteristics of Patriarchal Age. — i. Nomadic. 2. 
Patriarchal. 3. Conceptions of God. 4. Forms of Worship. 
5. Civilization. 6. Creative Power of the Covenant. . . 17 

CHAPTER IV.— THE PERIOD OF BONDAGE. 

1. Egypt at the Period of Bondage.— i. The Old Empire: 
The Pyramids. 2, The Middle Empire: The Hyksos— The 
Hebrews enter Egypt. 3. The New Empire : Eighteenth and 
Nineteenth Dynasties. II. The Oppression.— The "New 
King"— Edicts of Rameses II. III. Birth and Mission of 
Moses. — I. Forty Years in Egypt : Birth — Education— Choice. 
2. Forty Years in Midian : Marriage — The Burning Bush— Com- 
mission. IV. The Great Contest. — i. Nature of the Contest : 
Ten Plagues— Aimed at Idolatry. 2. Need of the Contest : 
Power and Culture against Truth. 3. End of the Contest: 
Death of First Born— Passage of Red Sea. V. Effects of the 
Sojourn in Egypt.— Made Israel a Nation— Civilized Them — 
Confirmed National Faith. ... 29 

CHAPTER v.— PERIOD OF WANDERINGS. 

I. From the Red Sea to Sinai.— i. Song of Deliverance. 

2. March to Rephidim. : Marah — Manna. 3. The Encampment 
at Rephidim. : The Smitten Rock — Attack of Amalek— Jethro's 
Visit. II. The Year at Sinai.— i. The National Covenant: 
Proposed by God, Accepted by the Nation— The Decalogue. 
2. The National Priesthood. 3. The National Festivals : Pass- 
over— Feast of Weeks— Feast of Tabernacles. 4. The National 
Sanctuary: Tabernacle— Divisions— Furniture. 5. The Nat- 
ional Sacrifices : Burnt, Peace, Sin offerings. The National 
Apostasy : The Golden Calf— Tables of Stone Broken and Re- 
newed. III. From Sinai to Kadesh.— i. The Census. 2. 



CO MEN IS. 



The March to Kadesh : Taberah- Sedition of Aaron and Mir- 
iam. 3. Tlie Break-down of Faith : Mission of the Spies — 
Thirty-eight Years' Wanderings— Rebellion of Korah, Dathan 
and Abirara. IV. From Kadesh to the Jordau. -Second 
Time at Kadesh— Second Smiting of the Rock— Death of Mir- 
iam—Detour around Edom -Death of Aaron -The Brazen Ser- 
pent—Defeat of Sihon and Og— Settlement of Country East of 
Jordan— Baalam -Farewell and Death of Moses. . . .36 

CHAPTER VI.— PERIOD OF CONQUEST. 

I. Passag^e of the Jordan.--:. The Nezv Leader : Joshua. 2. 
Jordan Divided. 3. Encampment at Gil gal : Circumcision 
Renewed— Passover Kept— Manna Ceases. H. Capture of 
Jericho.— Mission of Spies — Rahab— Commission of Joshua- 
Fall of Jericho. HI. Conquest of Central Canaan.— i. 
Ca/'/«r<? o/^z.- Defeat— Achan— Victory. 2. The Assembly at 
Shechem : Historical Associations— Ebal and Gerizim. IV. 
Confederacy and Conquest of the South.— i. League 
with Gibeonites : Their Deception. 2. Battle of Beth-horon : 
League of Southern Cities — Gibeon Attacked— The "Long 
Day." V. Confederacy and Conquest of the North.— 
Jabin's League — Defeated at Merom — Incompleteness of the 
Conquest— Consequences. A^l. Division of the Land and 
Death of Joshua.— i. Division of the Land: Method of 
Allotment— Portion of Levi — Cities of Refuge. 2. Death of 
Joshua: Assembly at Shechem- Covenant Renewed— Joshua's 
Farewell - Death 43 

CHAPTER VII.— PERIOD OF JUDGES. 

I. Religious State. — i. Series of Relapses into Idolatry : Q.2i\xs^9. — 
Idolatrous Ancestry— Egyptian Bondage -Contamination of Ca- 
naanites. 2. Series of Subsequent Oppressions. 3. Series of 
Deliverers called Judges, II. Political State.— Little Unity, 
Yet Held Together by a Common Ancestry, Common Language, 
Common Religion. III. Six Principal Invasions. — i. Mes- 
opotamian : Q.^\Qh. 2. Moabite : ^^Xon—'Ehw.d. t^. Canaanite : 
Jabin -Barak— Deborah — Jael and Sisera. 4. Midianite : Gid- 
eon. 5. ylwwo«//^ .• Jephthah. 6. Philistines: Samson. IV. 
The Story of Ruth.— The Famine -The Migration to Moab— 
Three Widows— Return -Ruth's Choice -Boaz. V. Saiiuid 
the Prophet- Jiidffe.—Hannah —Eli— Eli's Sons — Call of Sam- 
uel — Battle of Aphek. SamjieVs ^<7r^.- Reforms— Victories — 
Schools of Prophets— Introduces Monarchy. . . . .48 



AN- OUTLINE OF BIBLE HIS TOE Y. 



CHAPTER VI IT. — THE UNITED KINGDOM. 

I. The Th.eocracy. — i. Original Form. 2. Transition to Man- 
archy : Peoples' Petition —Reasons. II. Reign of Saul.— 

I. Saul's Election : Private Anointing — Public Election — Defeat 
of Ammonites -Coronation at Gilgal. 2, SauVs Reign till his 
Rejectio7i : War of Independence — Other Wars— Crusade against 
Amalek — Rejection. 3. Decline of Saul and Rise of David. — 
Insanejealousy— Pursuit of David— Battle of Gilboa, 4. Char- 
acteristics. III. Life and Keign of David.— Place in His- 
tory. I. Epoch I. — Shepherd Life : Birth-place and Family- 
Occupation— Private Anointing— Minstrel to Saul— Battle with 
Goliath. 2. Epoch II.— Life at SauVs Court: Saul's Jealousy 
— Jonathan's Friendship. 3. Epoch III. — Outlaw Life: la 
Wilderness of Judah— Among Philistines -A Dilemma— Gilboa. 
4. Epoch IV.— King over fudah : Civil War- Magnanimity-^ 
Capital, Hebron — Ishbosheth — Abner— Joab. 5. Epoch V.-~ 
King over All Israel : a. Period of Increasing Prosperity and 
Power — Capital, Jerusalem— Conquests — Alliances — Kxtent of 
Empire, b. Period of Decline— Bathsheba— Domestic Troubles 
Absalom— Joab— Adonijah — Coronation of Solomon. 6. Char- 
acteristics of His Reign : Military — Internal Improvement — 
Literature— Religion —Royal Model. IV. Reign and Char- 
acter of Solomon. — i. Accession and Dominions : Treason 
and Death of Adonijah and Joab. 2. His V/ise Choice: Wis- 
dom—Illustrations of— Proverbs— Songs— Queen of Sheba. 3. 
Solomon's Temple: David's Preparations— Alliance with Hiram 
—Its Supreme Distinction. 4. Other Buildings : ValSiC&s—Qxt- 
ies— Augustan Age. 5. Solomon's Commerce: Tarshish— Egypt 
—Judah. 6. Solomon's Apostasy : Violations of I,aw of the 
King, and of I,aw of Theocracy— Elements of National W^eak- 
ness. V. Rise of the Prophets.— Gap between Moses and 
Samuel— Prophet the Counterpart of the King— Prophets of the 
Period: Samuel— David— Gad— Nathan— Abijah. VI, Litera- 
ture of the Period.— Earlier I^iterature— Snatches of Poetry 
—Historical Books— Lost Books— W^ritings of David and Solo- 



CH AFTER IX.— THE NORTHERN KINGDOM. 

Introductory— Th'^ Two \^\r\^^ctvcv9,.— Origin of the Schism : 
Its Roots— Ephraim — Accession and Policy of Rehoboam — Jero- 
boam and the Revolt. 2. The Tzao Kingdoms Compared : Ter- 
ritory and Population— Religion— Elements of Stability. II. 
The Four Periods.— i. Idolatry Taking Root: Jeroboam— 



55 



CONTENTS. ii 



Calf- worship— New Priesthood and Feasts— Nadab—Baasha, 
Elaii, Ziiuri— Period of hostility toward Judah. 2. Idolatry 
J. riumphant : Omri and the New Capital -Ahab, Jezebel, Baal 
Worship — Era of Elijah— Intermarriage with Judah— Ahaziah 
— Jehoraui. 3. Idolatry Checked : Elisha— Jehu — Jehoahaz, Je- 
hoash, Jeroboam II.— Indian Summer of Israel— -Zachariah— 
Jonah and Hosea. 4. Idolatry Ending in Ruin : Shallum— 
Pckahiah—Pekah-Hoshea- Assyrian Supremacy— Capture of 
Sauiaria-Eud of Northern Kingdom— Origin of Samaritans. 69 

CHAPTER X.-TIIE SOUTHERN KINGDOM. 

Introductory : National Hopes Center in I,ine of David and King- 
dom of Judah. I. First Decline and Revival.— i. Decline 
tinder Rehoboam and Ahijah : Religion— Hostile Relations to 
Israel— Invasion of Shishak. 2. Revival tinder Asa and Je- 
hoshaphat : Religious Reforms— Invasion of Zerah-- Marriage 
Alliance with House of Ahab. IL Second Decline and Re- 
vival.— i. The Decline : Jehoram and Athaliah— Joash and Re- 
action— Amaziah — Uzziah — ^Jotham — Ahaz and Apostasy. 2. 
Revival under Hezekiah : Isaiah and Reform — Invasion of Sen- 
nacherib. III. Third Decline and Revival.— i. Decline 
under Manasseh and Amon : Worst Idolatries — Martyrdom of 
Isaiah. 2. Revival under Jjsiah : Temple Repairs — Law Found 
— Influence of Jeremiah and Huldah— Battle of Megiddo and 
Death of Josiah. IV. Final Decline and Captivity.— i. 
Moral Decay : Select Circle — Testimony of Isaiah. 2. Succes- 
sion 0/ Captivities: First Captivity, Daniel and others— Second 
Captivity, Jehoiachin, Ezekiel, Ten Thousand -Third Captiv- 
ity, Zedekiah— Destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar. 76 

CHAPTER XL— PERIOD OF EXILE. 

Reviezv and Summary: Prophecies of Captivity, i. Jeremiah and 
the Egyptian Exiles : Remnant in Judea- -Gedaliah Murdered 
— Johanan leads Remnant to Esfvot— Jeremiah's last Prophe- 
cies. 2. Daniel and the first Babvlonian Captivity: Stand 
against Luxury— Nebuchadnezzar's Dream— The Three Men in 
the Fire— Daniel's Visions -Daniel in the Den of Lions. 3. 
Ezekiel and the Second Babylonian Captivity : Ezekiel's Vis- 
ions at Chebar— Jeremiah's Letter 84 

CHAPTER XLI.—POST-EXLLE PERIOD. 

Introductory: Proohecies of Return, i. Return under Zerubba- 
bel: Daniel's Prayer -Cyrus' Decree — Fifty ThousandPilgrims 



AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY, 



— Temple Rebuilt — Trouble with Samaritans. 2. Story of 
Queen Esther: Ahasuerus and Vashti — Mordecai and Ksther — 
Plot of Haman — Petition of Esther. 3. Return and Reforms 
tender Ezra : I^eads Seven Thousand Back— Reforms — Canon 
of Scripture— Synagogues. 4. The Return under Nehemiah : 
Rebuilds Walls — Reforms Abuses. 5. Last Prophet, and Close 
of O. T. Canon. 6. The Pause in Sacred History. . . .88 

CHAPTER XIII.— INTERVAL BETWEEN THE OLD AND 
NEW TESTAMENTS. 

I. Historical Clisism.— Sources of Information : Greece— Rome 
— Silence of Prophets— The Apocrypha— Writings of Joseph- 
us. II. Political Period.— i. Persian Period: Mild Rule- 
Troubles with Samaritans— Temple on Gerizim. 2. Macedoni- 
an Period : Alexander— Jewish Colony at Alexandria. 3. Egyp- 
tian Period : Under the Ptolemies — The Septuagint. 4. Syri- 
an Period : Antiochus Epiphanes— Rise of Maccabees — Patri- 
ots—Martyrs. 5. Maccabean Period: War of Independence — 
Asmonean Kingdom, d. Roman Period : Civil Strife— Appeals 
to Rome — Pompey the Great Conquers Palestine — The Herodian 
Family— Rebuilding of the Temple. III. Changes in Life 
and Customs. — i. Occupation : Trade. 2. Language : He- 
brew Dead I^anguage. 3. Religion : Idolatry disappears— Rise 
of Synagogue— Rise of Jewish Sects 92 



PART SECOND. 



NEW TESTAMENT HISTORY. 



INTRODUCTION. 



I. The Land and the People : Changes in Names— New Currents of 
lyife — New I^anguage. 2. The Five Divisions of Palestine : 
Galilee— Judea— Samaria— Baashan District— Perea. 3. Rulers 
of Palestine : a. Roman Emperors: Augustus, Tiberius, Clau- 
dius, Nero, Vespasian, b. Local Rulers: Herod the Great— 
Tetrarchs: Archelaus, Antipas, Philip, Lysanias— Pilate— Her- 
od Agrippa I.— Herod Agrippa II 99 



CONTENTS. XI 



Book I. 

GOSPEI. HISTORY ; OR, THE PERSONAI, MISSION OF 
JESUS CHRIST. 
Introductioii.—i. Christ the Central Figicre in Bible History: 
Converging- I,ines— Old Testament Prophecy— New Testament 
Ordinances. 2. Christ the Key to the World's History : Prov- 
idential Preparations — Continuance and Fall of Rome. 3. 
Sources 0/ History : The Four Gospels : Matthew, Mark, I,uke, 
and John. T02 

CHAPTER I.— THE BIRTH AND INFANCY. 

I. The Series of Visions : Vision of Zacharias — of Mary— of Jo- 
seph. 2. The Manger-cradle at Bethlehem. 3. The Angel 
Song. 4. The Group in the Temple : Simeon— Anna. 5. Visit 
of the Wise Men. 6. The Edict of Herod, and Flight to Egypt : 
Herod's Jealousy— ^Edict— Death— Archelaus— Joseph Returns 
to Nazareth 105 

CHAPTER II.— PERIOD OF PREPARATION. 

I. The Silent Years at Nazareth. — i. Self-Restraint of the Gos- 
pels. 2. Educational Influences : Occupation — lyanguages — 
Synagogue. 3. Visit to ferusalem : Twelfth Year— First Re- 
corded Words. 3. Lessons of the Silent Years. II. The Min- 
istry of the Baptist.— I . Revival of Prophecy : John 's Prep- 
aration. 2. Power of his Ministry : Short— No Miracle— Real- 
ity. 4. The Kingdom, at Hand. i. The Baptism of Jesus : 
Significance to John — to Jesus. 5. The Temptation : Through 
Appetite — Through Trust in God — Through plans for Domin- 
ion 108 

CHAPTER III.— THE PERIOD OF OBSCURITY. 

I. The Early Galilean Ministry.— i. The First Disciples: 
John's Testimony — Andrew— Jchn— Peter— Philip — Nathanael, 

2. The First Miracle: The Marriage at Cana. 3, Conclusion 
of the Galilean Ministry : Visit to Capernaum— Return to 
Jerusalem. II. The Early Judean Ministry.— i. Charac- 
teristics : More Public — at Capital. 2. Cleansing of Temple. 

3. Conversation with Nicodemus. 4. The Country Ministry : 
Driven from Capital— Fruitful— Jealousy of John's Disciples 
—John's Last Tribute. 5. Close of Early Judean Ministry. 

6. The Woman of Samaria , . .114 



AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 



CHAPTER IV.— THE GREAT GALILEAN MINISTRY. 

lyitroductory : Time and Place. Characteristics : (i) Activity (2) 
Popularity. (3) Growing- Hostility of Pharisees. (4) I^oss of 
Popularity. I. First, or Preparatory, Stage.— Rejection at 
Nazareth— Capernaum Chosen— Miraculous Draught of Fishes 
and Second Call of Disciples. II. Second Stage.— To Ap- 
pointment of Apostles and Sermon on the Mount : A Memor- 
able Sabbath at Capernaum— A Great Tour in Galilee— Healing: 
of a Paralytic— Beginning of Opposition— Call and Feast of I^evi 
- Jairus' Daughter— The Parenthetical Miracle— The Second 
Passover— Further Sabbath Criticism — The Twelve and the Ser- 
mon on the Mount. III. Third Stage.— -To the Adoption of 
Parable Teaching: i. Continued Labors : Centurion's Servant 
— Widow's Son. 2. Jesus' Testimony to John. 3. Adoption of 
Parable Teaching: Key, Hostility of Scribes. IV. Fourtli 
Stage. — To the Sermon on the Bread of I^ife: i. Tempest 
Stilled^ and the Gadarene Demoniac. 2. First Mission of the 
Twelve: Preparatory— I^imited. 3. Death of the Baptist : Her- 
od Antipas and Herodias— Imprisonment- Death. 4. Feeding 
of the Five Thousand : Movement to make him King — Walking 
on the Sea— Sermon at Capernaum on Bread of I,ife— Loss of 
Disciples. V. Fifth Stage.— To Final Departure from Galilee 
at Feast of Tabernacles : i. Lejigth : Six Months. 2, New As- 
pects : Wandering— Seclusion— Private Instruction of Twelve. 
3. Visit to Phoenicia : Syro-Phoenician Woman. 4. Visit to 
CcEsarea Philippi : The Great Confession. 5. The Transfgu 
ration: Significance— to Jesus— to Disciples. 6. Close of the 
Galilean Ministry. 118 



CHAPTER v.— CLOSING MINISTRY IN ALL PARTS OF 
PALESTINE— FROM FEAST OF TABERNAC- 
LES TO ARRIVAL AT BETHANY. 

At Jerusalem — Feast of Ta.bernacles : Private Entrance — Man 
Born Blind — The Good Shepherd. 2. In Country Districts : 
Repeated Lessons— Good Samaritan— Mission of Seventy. 3. 
In ferusalem — Feast of Dedication : Attempts to Kill him — 
Retirement to Perea. At Bethany— Raising of Lazarus : Death 
of Lazarus— Jesus goes to Jerusalem— The Miracle — Decree o. 
Council— Second Retirement to Perea. 5. The Perean Minis- 
try: New Field — Scene of John's Ministry — New Popularity— 
No Miracles— Second Group of Parables -Last Journey to Jeru- 
salem -Jericho— Zacchaeus. 130 



CONTEXTS. 



CHAPTER VI.— THE LAST WEEK OF JESUS' MIXISTRY. 

1. The Anointing at Bethany. 2. 5?^«cf^j// The Triumphal Entry. 
3. Monday : The Barren Fig Tree — The Second Cleaning of the 
Temple. 4. Tuesday— The Day 0/ Questions : Question of Au- 
thority — of Tribute— of the Resurrection— The Great Command- 
ment—The Christ— The Great Denunciation— Christ's Second 
Coming— Judgment Scene— Judas' Bargain. 5. IFednesday : 
The Calm Before the Storm. Thursday: The Last Supper- 
Conversations — Prayer for Disciples. 7. Gethsemane. . . 134 

CHAPTER P' II.— THE LAST DAY. 

Introductory: Fullness of the Records, i. The Betrayal. 2. The 
Trials: a. The Jewish, or Ecclesiastical, Trial : (i) Before An- 
nas ; (2) Before Caiphas ; (3) Before the Sanhedrin— Peter's 
Denials— Judas' Suicide, b. The Roman, or Civil Trial: (i) 
Before Pilate ; (2) Before Herod ; (3) Before Pilate— Sentence— 
The Crown of Thorns. 3. The Crucifixion : Hour and Place- 
On the Way— At the Cross— The Seven Sayings— End of the 
Old Covenant. 4. The Burial: Joseph — Nicodemus — The Seal 
and Guard. 140 

CHAPTER VIII.— THE FORTY DA YS. 

I. The Resurrection : Predicted by Prophets — By Jesus— Not ex- 
pected by Disciples — Three Essential Miracles — The Empty 
Sepulchre. 2. The Appearance of Jesus : To Mary — To Other 
Women — To Peter — To Two Disciples — To Apostles except 
Thomas— To All the Apostles — To Seven Disciples— To Five 
Hundred — To James — To Apostles at Olivet. 3, The Last Com- 
mission: Previous Missions Preparatory and Restricted— Re- 
strictions Removed. 4, The Ascension: New Light— Waiting 
for the Spirit 147 



Book II. 

APOSTOLIC HISTORY ; OR, THE FOUNDING AND EXTENSION 
OF THE CHURCH. 

Introduction.— I. Sources of Apostolic History : a. The Book of 
Acts. b. Historical Allusions in the Epistles, c. The Book of 
Revelation. 2. Relations to the Gospel History. 3. Periods 
of Apostolic History: (i) Founding and Growth of the Church 
in Jerusalom. (2) Extension of Church throughout Judea and 



xiv AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

Samaria, and Transition to the Gentiles, (3) Paul's Missionary 
Tours among the Gentiles. (4) Paul's Four Years' Imprison- 
ment. 151 

CHAPTER I.— THE FOUNDING AND GROWTH OF THE 
CHUR CH IN JER USA LEM. 

I. Founding of the Church.— i. The Nucleus of the Church; 
The Eight Days of Waiting : The One Hundred and Twenty- 
Election of Matthias. 2. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit : 
Time and Accompaniments— Effect on Disciples— Evidential 
Value— Effects on the Multitude. 3. Peter's Sermon ; Results : 
The Argument— The Question and Answer— Birthday of the 
Church. II. Growth of the Church in Jerusalem.— i. 
First fewish Persecution : I,ame Man Healed— Peter's Sermon 
—Imprisonment of Peter and John. 2. Dangers from Within : 
Ananias and Sapphira. 3. Second fewish Persecution : All the 
Apostles Imprisoned— Opposition of Sadducees— Counsel of Ga- 
maliel. 4. First Division of Labor : " Hellenists " and " He- 
brews"— The Seven. 5. The First Christian Martyr: Ste- 
phen—Pharisees Became Hostile — Stephen's Defense and Death. 153 

CHAPTER II.— EXTENSION OF CHURCH THROUGH- 
OUT fUDEA AND SAMARIA, AND TRAN- 
SITION TO GENTILES. 

I. Extension to Samaria: Diverging I^ines— Effect of Persecution 
PhilipinSamaria— Sorcerer— Simon. 2. Conversion of the Eu- 
nuch. 3. Conversion and Early Labors of Saul: Saul Leader of 
Third Persecution— Goes to Damascus— Jesus appears— Baptized 
by Ananias— Preaches at Damascus— Goes to Arabia— Return to 
Damascus - Persecuted— Goes to Jerusalem— Introduced by Bar- 
nabas -Persecuted— Goes to Tarsus. 4. Trattsition to Gentiles : 
a. Through Peter : Conversion of Cornelius— Gulf to be bridged 
—Preparation of Cornelius— Preparation of Peter— The Case 
Defended, b. Through the Hellenists— Antioch — New Center 
— New Leader— New Name. 5. Fourth fewish Persecution: 
Herod Agrippa I.— Beheads James— Imprisons Peter— Peter's 
Escape — Herod's Death 158 

CHAPTER III.— PAUL'S MISSIONARY TOUR AMONG 
THE GENTILES. 

I. The First Tour.- 1. The Missionary Impulse: At Antioch— 
From the Holy Spirit— Barnabas and Saul. 2. The Visit to Cy- 
prus: Salamis —John Mark— Paphos— Bar-Jesus— Sergius Paul- 
us. 3. Tour in Asia Minor: Mark's Return— Antioch— Paul's 
Sermon— Iconium—Lystra— Paul Stoned -Derbe— Return to 



CONTENTS. XV 



Antioch. II. The Second Tour.— i. The Interval; The 
Council at Jerusalem: Question of Gentile Circumcision. 2. 
Quarrel between Paul and Barnabas. 3. Second Visit to Asia 
Minor: Paul Joined by Timothy— Larger Plans of Paul and for 
Paul— Vision at Trcas. 4. The Gospel Planted in Europe: Phil- 
ippi— Lydia— The Jailer. 5. From Philippi to Athens: Thes- 
salonica— Berea. 6. /'aw/ a/ ^//z^w^; Splendid Idolatries— Phil- 
osophers— Paul's Sermon on Mars' Hill -Contrast with one at , 
Antioch — Dionysius and Damaris. 7. PauVs Long Sojourn at 
Corinth: Poverty and Depression— Aquila and Priscilla— Arri- 
val of Timothy— Fruitful Ministry— Epistles to the Thessaloni- 
ans. 8. Return to Antioch: Touches at Ephesus. III. 'J'he 
Third Tour.— r. Paul's Three Years at Ephesus: Through 
Galatiato Ephesus— Apollos— Twelve Disciplesof John— School 
of Tyrannus— Mob of Silversmiths— First Epistle to Corinthi- 
ans. 2. SecondTour in Macedonia and Achaia: S&conA^l>\s\\^ 
to Corinthians— Three Months at Corinth— Epistles to Romans 
and Galatians. 3. The Collection. 4. The Return Voyage: 
Through Macedonia — Old Friends and New — A Lord's Day at 
Troas— The Interview at Miletus — Tyre— Ptolemais -CiEsarea. 
5. PauVs Reception at Jerusalem,: Prejudice — Advice of James 
—Mobbed in the Temple. 163 

CHAPTER IV.— PAUL'S FOUR YEARS' IMPRISONMENT. 

\. His Imprisonment at Jerusalem, -i. Address to the Mob. 
2. Address Bejore the Sanhedrin: Pharisees vs. Sadducees. 
II. His Imprisonment at Csesarea. — i. His Dejense Bejore 
/>/«>; TertuUus. 2. Sermons Bejore Felix: Drusilla. 3. His 
Defense Bejore Festus: Appeal to Caesar. 4. Address Bejore 
Agrippa : A Courtly Audience. III. The Voyage to Komo.— 

1. The Ship and the Company: Luke— Arista hus— Julius. 2. 
The Run to Myra: Sidon -Myra— Change o Ships. 3. The 
Great Storm: Cnidus— Crete— Fair Havens— he Wreck. 3. ^ 
The Winter at Melila. 4. Completion oj the Vo^ ge: Syracuse I 
—Rhegium— Friends from Rome. IV. The Tw . Years' Im- 
prisonment at Rome. — i. PauVs Interview u JJi the Jezus. 

2. PauVs Epistles Jrom Rome: a. Ephesians, Colossians, Phil- 
emon, b. Philippians. c. Epistle to the Hebrews. 3. PauVs 
Evangelistic Labors at Rome: The Praetorian Guard— Co- 
Workers 172 

CHAPTER v.— LATER APOSTOLIC HISTORY. 

I. PauVs Ijater History.— i. His Release; Subsequent History: 
Visits Ephesus, Crete, Macedonia, Greece— First Epistle to 



xvi AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

Timothy —Epistle to Titus. 2. His Last Iniprisonvient and 
Mariyrdoni: Severity of Imprisonment— Desertion of Friends 
—Second Epistle to Timothy. II. Later History of Other 
Apostles.— I. Last Glimpse of Peter : Last Reference in Acts — 
In Epistles— His Two Epistles— Martyrdom at Rome. 2. Later 
Life offohn: Last Notice in Acts— His Gospel— Epistles— Rev- 
elation in Patmos— Last Years at Ephesus. 3. The Other Apos- 
tles ; Conclusion: Epistles of James and Jude -Contrast Be- 
tween Gospel History and Apostolic History 178 



INTRODUCTION. 



I. WHY STUDY BIBLE HISTORY? 

The question is a proper one. The minister is expected 
to study the Bible. It is his business to know it himself, 
and to teach it to others. All Christian people are supposed 
to read their Bibles as a means of private and personal edifi- 
cation. But why make a systematic course in Bible history 
part of a college curriculum ? 

1. Because the Bible is so Widely Known. — Its stories are 
read or repeated in every home in Christendom. It holds 
the supreme place in the church, and an honored place in the 
lodge, the legislative hall, and in courts of justice. It is 
interwoven with our greatest modern literatures, and trans- 
lated into three hundred languages and dialects. Directly 
and indirectly it creates ten fold more books than any other 
book in the world. Such a book, so widely known, and so 
creative, ought to be included in any scheme of liberal 
culture. 

2. Because It is so Little Known. — Men read about the 
Bible more than they read the Bible itself. They read it 
more than the\^ study it. Their knowledge of it is super- 
ficial and scrapp}'. They have no clear cojinected x'iqvc of it. 
The student learns to outline the history of Egypt and 
Persia, of Greece and Rome. How many college graduates 
could give an intelligent account of Abraham or Moses or 
David, or even state a dozen facts in order in the life of Jesus 

or Paul ? 

1 



AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY: 



3. Because the Plan of the Bible Is Historical. — It is not 

logical nor scientific. Redemption is historically unfolded in 
its pages ; it should be historically studied. One may doubt- 
less get good out of a verse, a fact, a character of the Bible 
severed from its historical setting ; how much more when 
restored to its connections ! Imagine a masterpiece of art 
cut into fragments and submitted piecemeal for our admira- 
tion ; here a shrub, there a rock, and in another fragment a 
patch of blue sky or a placid pool that mirrors it back ! Each, 
no doubt, has a merit of its own, yet not so do men study the 
sublime creations of art ; not so should they study the sub- 
limer revelations of the Spirit. In themselves. Magna 
Charta, Luther's Theses, or the character of Abraham Lin- 
coln, are doubtless worthy of diligent study ; seen in the per- 
spective of history, they are of surpassing; interest. If you 
would know Abraham or Moses or David or Paul, if you 
would comprehend the Abrahamic covenant, the scenes on 
Sinai and on Calvary, or the sermon on Pentecost, you 
must know them as parts of a sublime whole. The Bible 
should be historically studied. 

4. To Realize Its Unity. — The Bible is not one book ; it is 
many books. Its forty authors were separated by vast 
stretches of distance and many centuries of time. They 
were of every grade of culture, from herdmen and fishermen 
to royal poets and disciplined scholars. The range in kind 
of composition is equally great ; historj-, law, poetry, epic 
and lyric, proverb, prophecy, parable, oration, epistle, ser- 
mon, all find place in these wonderful pages. Moreover, 
these forty authors wrought largely unconscious of one 
another's work. And yet it is one book. With real, though 
unconscious, unity of spirit and purpose the forty authors 
wrought. The unbroken thread of divine purpose, the scar- 
let thread of human redemption by divine sacrifice, runs 
through the sixty-six booklets, binding them into one. Little 
by little, age after age, that purpose unfolds ; " first the blade, 
then the ear, then the full corn in the ear." Christ is the 
point of view in the picture. On his head fall the converging 



I.VTROnUCTION: 



lines, whether running forward from the Paradise lost, or 
backward from Paradise regained. Christ is the key; without 
him all is chaos; with him all is kosmos, beauty, order, unity. 

5. As a Book of Human History. — No one can lay claim to 
broad culture who is ignorant of the history of his own kind. 
The sublimest lessons of personal heroism or folly, the rich 
literatures of all times, lie imbedded in history. The Bible 
traces with remarkable fullness the origin and fortunes of one 
of earth's most remarkable races, the Hebrews. The thread 
of their history is interwoven with the fortunes of every 
great nation of antiquity. Thus Chaldea, Egypt, Assyria, 
Babylonia, Persia, Macedonia and Rome all are touched in 
turn. 

6. To Preserve One's Faith in the Bible. — We outgrow a 
thousand childish conceptions. After years of absence we 
return to the home of our childhood. How everything has 
changed ! The old house and barn, the fields in which we 
played or toiled, the hill down which we coasted, the brook 
where we bathed or fished or skated, all have dwindled in 
dimensions. Our life, within and without, has become en- 
larged. Along with other ideas of childhood, there is danger 
that we cast away our faith in our father's Bible. Our danger 
lies in our real ignorance of it ; the remedy, in a better, more 
comprehensive knowledge. 

II. THE OBJECT OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

The primary object is religious. Religion is important in 
all history. It is interwoven with art, poetry, laws, customs^ 
home life, often with great wars. Still, as a rule, it is treated 
as incidental, secondary. Political and intellectual life, thfe 
building of great empires or splendid monuments of archi- 
tecture, the creation of masterpieces of art or law or litera- 
ture,— these hold the first place. 

In Bible history, on the contrary, the religious purpose 
predominates. True, from first to last of their w^onderful 
story, God's chosen peoole came in contact with every great 



AV OUTLINE OF BIBLE II. STORY. 



nation of old. We learn something of the steps in their 
rise to power, and the causes of iheir decline. Still, in the 
Bible general history is incidental. The primary purpose 
is to trace the origin and historic development of true relig- 
ion in its three great stages — Patriarchal, Jewish and Chris- 
tian. Even if a man disbelieve a great historic religion, he 
can not afford to be without an intelligent conception of it. 

III. AGES OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

Three capital events mark off Bible history into three 
great ages or dispensations. They are: (i) The giving of 
the law of Moses on Mt. Sinai; (2) The descent of the Spirit 
on the day of Pentecost; (3) The death of the last apostle. 
The ages may be thus defined : 

1. The Patriarchal Age,^ B. C. 4004-1 491. From creation 
to the giving of the law. 

2. The Jewish Age, B. C. 1491-A. D. 30. From the giving 
of the law to the descent of the Holy Spirit. 

3. The Christian Age, A. D. 30-100. From the descent of 
the Spirit to the death of the Apostle John. 

The characteristic of the first is the family — family reve- 
lation, family religion, family government ; of the second, the 
nation — national religion, a national covenant; of the third, 
the race — a world-wide religion and message. God spoke in 
the first age to families through the Patriarchs; in the second, 
to the nation through Moses ; in the third, he speaks to all 
the world through his Son. 

IV. PERIODS OF OLD TESTAMENT HISTORY. 

To hold the events of history in the proper perspective, 
one must fix firmly a few of the hinges of history and their 
dates. One hour spent in mastering the following periods, 



* Note.— The early Bible chronology is very uncertain. For wart 
of any accepted system, that of Ussher, as noted in the margins of our 
Bibles, is here given. The Exodus probably belongs one hundred to 
pne hundred and fifty years later. 



INTRODUCTION, 



with the habit of always referring every event to its proper 
period, will prove of lifelong service : 

1. Antediluvian Period, 4004-2348. From creation to the 
deluge. 

2. Post-diluvian, 2348-192 1. From the deluge to the call 
of Abraham. 

3. Patriarchal, 1 921-1706. From the call of Abraham to 
the migration to Egypt. 

4. Bondage, 1706-1491. From the migration to Egypt to 
the Exodus. 

5. Wanderings, 1491-1451. From the Exodus to the 
crossing of the Jordan. 

6. Conquest, 1451-1400. From the crossing of the Jordan 
to the death of Joshua. 

7. Judges, 1400-1095. From the death of Joshua to the 
anointing of Saul. 

8. The United Kingdom, 1095-975. From the anointing 
of Saul to the accession of Rehoboam. 

9. The Double Kingdom, 975-722. From the accession of 
Rehoboam to the fall of Samaiia. - 

10. Judah Alone, 722-586. From the fall of Samaria to 
the fall of Jerusalem. 

11. The Exile, 586-536. From the fall of Jerusalem to 
the return under Zerubbabel. 

12. The Post-exile, 536-400. From the return to the close 
of the Old Testament Canon. 



PART FIRST. 

OIvD TrKSXAMENX HISTORY. 



CHAPTER I. 

ANTEDILUVIAN PERIOD, B C. 4OO4-2348, FROM CREATION 
TO THE DELUGE, GEN. I. I — VIII. 1 3. 

Introductory: The Book of Genesis. — Genesis (generation, 
beginning) is a " book of origins." Gen. i. i gives the 
genesis of all things. The phrase "generations of . . ." 
occurs ten times, as follows : ' Generations of the heavens 
and the earth," Gen. ii. 4; " of Adam," v. i ; " of Noah," vi. 
9; "of the sons of Noah," x. i; "of Shem," xi. 10; "of 
Terah," xi. 2'] \ "of Ishmael," xxv. 12; "of Isaac," xxv. 19; 
"of Ksau," xxxvi. I ; "of Jacob," xxxvii. 2. This frequent 
use of the formula is not an accident. The author is con- 
sciously dealing v^uth the beginnings of history. This 
characteristic of the first book of the Bible early attracted 
attention, and it was appropriately called " Genesis." 

1. Genesis of tlie Universe (Gen. i. i). — a. The Problem 
Illustrated. — Given a bar of steel, and we can make ham- 
mers, shears, needles, w^atch springs, etc. That is not crea- 
tion ; it is transformation. Whence the steel ? Who made 
it? Here is a universe; sun, stars, seas, myriad-sided life. 
The bottom question is not one of transformation, but of 
origin. 

6 



ANTEDIL UVIAN PERIOD. 



b. The Proble?n Solved. — For ages reason wrought at 
the problem. " Eternal" ; " self-made " ; " chance " ; such 
were some of the solutions offered. Other solutions were 
disfigured with gross polytheism. In the midst of this 
Babel of opinions, our author clearly sees that there is 
no chance ; that nothing is self-made ; that ever}^ effect 
must have an adequate cause. One word from his in- 
spired pen solves the problem ; " in the beginning God 
created the heaven and the earth." God is the solution. 
Given God, and all else follows. "He spake, and it was 
done, he commanded, and it stood fast" (Ps. xxxiii. 9). 

c. The Time. — "In the beginning," Science talks learnedly 
of millions of years. Very well ; carry the origin of things 
back a million millenniums and Gen. i. i meets the demand. 

2. Genesis of Order (Gen. i. 2 — ii. 3). — The creation re- 
cord points to {a) a primeval chaos, " waste and void " ; {b) an 
organizing energy ; " the spirit of God moved upon the face 
of the waters ; " {c) six successive days * or periods in the 
genesis of order, (i) Genesis of light. Laplace was the 
author of the nebular hypothesis. It was advanced, not to 
bolster up Genesis, but to account for the universe. Accord- 
ing to that theory, the condensation of gaseous matter was 
accompanied by intense heat-emitting light. Men call 
Moses a fool for placing light before the sun, and Laplace a 
scientist for doing the same thing. (2) Genesis of the firma- 
ment or expanse. The earth's crust cooled; the thick 
envelope of vapors condensed and fell as rain or rose as 
clouds, and the expanse of the sky became visible like an 
illimitable tent of blue overhead. (3) Genesis of conti- 
nents, seas and vegetation. There seems to have been a 
period of universal sea, with no continents, islands, shore- 
line. God speaks ; continents rise from the ocean beds ; 



* Some hold to a day of twenty-four hours. It is possible, but not 
probable. The sun measures our day; but it could not have measured 
the first three days. In the creative record itself (Gen. ii. 4) there is a 
use of "day" in a more extended sense. For other examples see Ps. 
xcv. 8, John viii. 56, Heb. iii. 8. 



AJV OUTLINE OP BIBLIs: HISTORY. 



islands stud the seas, naked and barren at first, but in course 
of time robed with varied vegetation. (4) Genesis of sun, 
moon and stars. The creation record may be conceived as 
"phenomenal" or "panoramic," z. ^., describing events as 
they would appear to a beholder from the earth. The heav- 
enly bodies doubtlesr existed before the fourth period, but 
then first became visible to the earth. (5) The genesis of 
marine life and fowls. The life line is crossed. Hitherto 
no beast roamed the earth, no bird cleaved the air, no fish 
swam the sea. Once more the divine edict goes forth, and air 
and seas swarm with life. It is the age of mollusks and rep- 
tiles, of fowls and fishes. (6) Genesis of land, life and man. 
The characteristic of the sixth period is man ; the char- 
acteristic of man is that he is in God's image (Gen i. 2"]). 
*' Create" is used three times in this chapter: in i. i, of the 
universe; in i. 21, of the origin of animal lite; in i. 27, of 
the genesis of man. The first crosses the line between non- 
being and being, the second between the non-living and the 
living, the third between the brute and man. On his lower 
side man is in the image of the earth to which he returns, of 
the plant life which roots in its soil, and of the beast that 
roams over its surface. But he faces upward as they do not. 
He is in God's image in (i.) power of intelligent compre- 
hension. Before man there were order and beauty ; but no 
being on earth to appreciate order or beauty, or to connect 
cause and effect. Only God could create ; only man, in God's 
image, can perceive the plan and beauty in God's creation, 
(ii.) In sensibility, intelligent, appropriate feeling, (iii.) In 
power of intelligent choice. (iv.) In moral nature, the 
sense of right and wrong, (v.) In dominion. This phrase, 
" lyct him have dominion," is his "colonist's charter." It 
gives him his title to the earth and all its products. It also 
clothes material creation with its moral meaning : its end is 
man, whose supreme end is God. 

One or two features of the creative record are worthy of 
special remark, (i) Its remarkable harmony with the estab- 
lished results of science; in that there was a genesis ; that 



AA'TEDTL UVIAN PERIOD. 9 

chaos preceded order ; that creation was not simultaneous, 
but successive ; that it proceeded by progressive develop- 
ment; that the progression was from the lower to the 
higher ; and finally, in general agreement as to the order of 
successive creations. Is the the first chapter of Genesis 
guesswork ? Would Darwin, or Tyndall, or Huxley, in an 
unscientific age, have guessed so well ? (2) It is not strictly 
history. History makes use of human sources of informa- 
tion ; oral tradition, written laws and documents, ancient 
monuments. No tradition can reach back of man's appear- 
ance on earth. It must have been an apocalypse, a 
supernatural revelation. So the Bible opens, so it closes. 
The unknown past and the unknown future stand revealed 
in the visions that open and clpse the Bible. 

3. The Genesis of Sin (Gen. ii. 4 — iii. 24). — Gen. i. i — ii. 
3. gives a general account of creation. This section recap- 
itulates with a more particular account of man. In the first 
section nature, including man, is the theme. All nature is 
traced up to God as its infinite, intelligent source. In the 
second section man is the great theme. He is here set forth 
in his true relation as the crown and lord of creation, because 
in the image of his Creator. 

a. Primeval State. — We enter here upon history proper. 
Revelation may employ human sources of knowledge. Our 
knowledge of the primeval state extends to (i) man's abode. 
This was Kden. Two well known rivers, the Euphrates and 
the Hiddekel (Tigris) point to southwestern Asia. Wide- 
spread tradition, confirmed by modern scientific research, 
points to the highlands south of the Caucasus as the cradle 
of the race. (2) Society. Man was not made for solitude, 
nor to find any real companionship with even the higher 
forms of brute life. Only with his own kind and in family 
life are the high ends of his being to be attained. The crea- 
tion of Eve teaches the essential unity and equality of the 
race, (3) Occupation. Man was never meant for idleness. 
In idleness powers rust, morals decay. Hence he was put 
in the garden to dress it and to keep it. (4) Moral state. 



10 A.V OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

The liistorian pictures a state of full fellowship with God, the 
blessedness of perfect innocence and trust ; of large liberty ; 
** of all the trees of the garden thou may'st freely eat " ; with 
a single restriction : " of the tree of the knowledge of good 
and evil thou shall not eat." Liberty must have limits. 
Man must respect law, and subject selfish desire to higher 
good. Sovereign on earth, he must be subject to God. 
' b. The Trans gressioji. — Already, sin and a sinner are in 
the universe. Both find their way to Eden. The serpent 
appears, either as the symbol or agent of Satan, {cf. John 
viii. 44 ; Rev. xii. 9 ; xx. 2). Note the course of the tempta- 
tion and the sin. There is an insinuating question : '* Yea, 
hath God said ye shall not eat " ? then a slanderous lie ; ♦' Ye 
shall not surely die." Then follow, in swift succession, dis- 
trust of God, wrong desire, wrong choice, open disobe- 
dience. The return to God reverses all this ; belief of the 
truth, trust in God, right desire, right choice, open surren- 
der to the will of God. 

c. The Penalty. — There follows, as the natural, necessary 
result, a sense of guilt and alienation ; Adam and Eve " hid 
themselves." There fell also the judicial penalty : upon the 
woman, multiplied sorrows ; upon the man, increased toil ; 
yet to both a sublime hope, the promised seed to bruise the 
serpent's head. In Gen. iii. 15, at the very gate of the lost 
Eden, we catch the first dim prophecy of Christ's redemp- 
tive work. 

4. Echoes of Creation and the Fall. — Ancient literatures 
contain interesting traces of the great facts here recorded. * 
But they are marred with heathen conceptions, and fall far 
below the sublime record of inspiration. " The vStory of the 
Fall, like that of Creation, has wandered over the world. 
Heathen nations have transplanted it and mixed it up with 
their geography, their history, their mytholog5% although it 
has never so completely changed form and color and spirit 
that you can not recognize it. Here, however, in the law, it 



*See Geikie's " Hours with the Bible," Vol. I., chap. viii. 



ANTEDlL U VI AN PERIOD. \\ 



preserves the character of a universal human, world-wide 
fact, and the groans of Creation, the redemption that is in 
Christ Jesus, and the heart of every man conspire in their 
testimony to the most literal truth of the narrative. * 

5. The Genesis of Sacrifice (Gen. iv. 1-15). — Children 
came to this first human home bringing both sunshine and 
shadow. The brothers differed in occupations and in the 
sacrifices they brought. There was a deeper difference in 
the men themselves. Cain was a tiller of the soil, Abel a 
keeper of sheep. One brought the first-fruits of the field, 
i. e.y a thank-offering. The other brought the firstlings of 
the flock as a sin-offering. Cain's offering was only such as 
Adam and Eye in the innocence of Eden might have offered. 
It expressed no sense of sin, no prayer for pardon. More- 
over, Cain lacked the faith of his brother Abel (Heb. xi. 4). 
His spirit, as contrasted with Abel's, was one of unbelief, 
self-righteousness, self-will. It was a case of Pharisee and 
Publican at the gate of Eden. Cain's jealous hate drove 
him to murder; Abel's fidelity made him a martyr: the one, 
first in a long line of blood-stained men ; the other, first in 
the mighty roll of God's heroes. 

6. Tlie Line of Cain (Gen. iv. 16-26). — Cain had a son, 
Enoch, and built a city, Enoch. Like father, like son. The 
line of Cain were an enterprising, ungodly race. Cain, 
Enoch, Irad, Mehujael, Methusael, Lamech, constitute the 
line. Doubtless there were side lines. This is given be- 
cause at the end of it stands lyamech, in whose family the 
characteristics of the line culminate. Lamech had two 
wives, who bore him three sons : Jubal, a musician; Jabal, a 
herdsman ; and Tubal-Cain, a metal worker. The violence 
of Cain repeats itself in Lamech, as shown in his " sword 
song" : 

*' Adah and Zillah, hear my voice ; 
Ye wives of Lamech, hearken unto my speech ; 
For I have slain a man for wounding me, 
And a young man for bruising me" (Gen. iv. 23). 



*DeUtzsch, quoted in Smith's O. T. Hist., p. 29. 



12 AN OUTLTNP: OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

Two lessons may be gleaned from the brief record : (i) Ma- 
terial civilization is not a divine gift, but a purely human 
development. (2) Civilization is not religion, nor a substi- 
tute for it. The line of Cain gives us the following first 
things : murder, city, polygamy, musician, metal-worker, po- 
etry ; but not one example of men who " walked with God." 

7. The Line of Seth (Gen. v.). — Adam doubtless had other 
sons after Seth, from whom other lines descended. This 
seems to have been preserved because it leads to Noah, 
who represents its better traits, and through whom the race 
was perpetuated and the promised seed was to come. The 
line comprises ten names, as follows ; Adam, Seth, Enosh, 
Kenan, Mahalalel, Jared, Enoch, Methusaleh, Lamech, Noah. 
At first sight it looks like a bare family register of births, 
ages, and deaths, and singularly resembles the names in the 
line of Cain. But the little told contrasts sharply with that 
line. In the days of Seth and Enosh, " men began to call 
upon the name of the Lord" ; " Enoch walked with God, and 
was not, for God took him " ; a saying significant both of di- 
vine fellow^ship and a blessed immortality. Noah was " a 
righteous man" and "walked with God." So meager the 
records, yet so contrasted the portraits of these two lines 
of Cain and Seth. 

8. The Apostasy and the Deluge (Gen. vi. i-viii, 14).—^. 
Traditions of the Deluge.— "Th&r& can be no doubt that these 
chapters describe a great historic event. Echoes of Eden 
and the Fall, as we have seen, are found in many ancient 
literatures. But no other event of early Bible history is so 
fully corroborated as the Deluge. It left a deep, enduring 
impression. Traditions of it are found among the four great 
races, Turanian, Hamitic, Semitic, and Aryan. They vary 
greatly : some are grossly distorted by polytheism; but those 
nearest to the spot where the ark rested are most minute 
and accurate. The Chinese, Hindus, Chaldeans, Egyptians, 
Greeks, Celts, Laps, Esquimaux, Mexicans, and Central and 
South Americans, all have preserved the tradition. That 
of the Chaldeans is most famous, and nearest the Bibie 



A NTEDIL U VTA .V PERIOD. 13 

account. It exists in two forms : ( i) That of Berosus, a priest 
of Babylon who wrote in Greek, B. C. 260. This has been 
known for man}- centuries. (2) That of the cuneiform tab- 
lets dug lip from the ruins of Nineveh in 1872, after a sleep 
of twenty-five centuries. * 

b. Moral Causes of the Deluge. — The Deluge was not a 
mere physical catastrophe. It was a sublime moral event. 
Read Gen. vi. 5. Society was morally rotten, hopelessly so. 
The causes of the apostas}'- are not far to seek. Read Gen. 
vi. 1-5. Remember what has been said of the two lines of 
Cain and Seth. It is probable that the gross degeneracy 
was the result of the intermarriage of the line of Seth 
("sons of God") with the line of Cain ("daughters of 
men" ), As in all compromises with evil, the advantages 
were all on the wrong side. The outcome of the apostasy 
was the destruction of the race. Extreme crime calls for 
extreme penalty. The hardened criminal we imprison for 
life, or hang by the neck till he is dead. The antediluvians 
were not the last people swept from the earth for their 
crimes. The waters of the flood, the rain of fire that blasted 
Sodom forever, the breath of pestilence, the tempest of war, 
have been the divine messengers of judgment. 

c. Means of the Deluge. — He who created the earth con- 
trols abundant means for its destruction. Again and again, 
before the era of man, must the earth have been deluged 
with rains, and submerged "beneath the seas. The fountains 
of the great deep were broken up, and the windoivs of heaven 
were opened (Gen vii. 11). What occurred so often before 
man's appearance may easily have occurred again under 
God's providence, for a great moral purpose. Portions of 
Western Asia are still below the level of the sea, and the 
subsidence of other portions would inundate them and 
sweep thousands from the earth. 

d. Duration and Extent of the Dehige.—li rained for forty 
days. The waters continued to rise for one hundred and 



'See Geikie's " Hours with the Bible/' Vol. I., chap. xiii. 



14^ A.V OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

fifty days, and to subside for two hundred and twenty-five 
days. It was either universal, or what is more probable, 
occurred early in the history of the race, before they had 
spread widely. Either view would account for the universal 
tradition. 

e. Noah and the Deluge. — Some names are forever asso- 
ciated with great epochs. Lincoln with Emancipation, 
Cromwell wdth the Commonwealth, Moses with the Exodus ; 
so Noah with the Deluge. Read Gen. vi. 9, vii. i; Ezek. 
xiv. 14. Noah was God's man, a heroic figure in an apos- 
tate age. Altar after altar had crumbled, but the fires on 
Noah's altar did not go out till quenched by the flood. It 
calls for courage to stand alone. But Noah dared to lead 
where few dared to follow. The absolute obedience and 
safety of Noah, the hopeless corruption and ruin of the race 
— such are the impressive lessons. For one hundred and 
twenty years Noah faithfullj^ preached and heroically lived. 
Only seven converts rewarded his labors: his wife, and his 
sons, Shem, Ham, and Japheth, with their wives. Yet Noah 
was successful : he did his duty, and he outrode the flood. 



CHAPTER II. 

THE POST-DILUVIAN PERIOD, B. C. 2348-I92I. FROM 
THE DELUGE TO THE CALL OF ABRA- 
HAM, GEN. VIII. 10 — XI. 26. 

1. Th2 Second Beginning (Gen. viii. 15— ix. 29).— The ark 
became the second cradle of the race. From it Noah and 
his family went forth to a new probation. 

a. The Altar and the Covenant. — Noah bad preserved seven 
of each kind of clean animals. His first act after leaving the 
ark was to build an altar and make an offering unto God of 
every clean beast and fowl. In acceptance of his worship, 
God makes a covenant with Noah, and seals it with his 
beautiful bow of promise. The main points of the cove- 
nant were: (i) no more flood; (2) man to multiply and 
replenish the earth ; (3) animal food confirmed ; (4) the 
death penalt}' for murder enforced the sanctity of human 
life. 

b. Destiny of Noah's Sons. — The closing incidents of 
Noah's history are his being overcome with wine, Hani's 
shameless disrespect, and Shera and Japheth's moreliiodest 
conduct. The natural contrasts became the occasion of 
Noah's prophetic portrayal of their diverse dCvStinies : (i) the 
curse of Canaan (Ham'3 race), (2) the blessing of Shem, (3) 
the enlargement of Japheth. 

2. Genesis of the Nations (Gen. x.). — The tenth chapter 
of Genesis is the oldest authority on ethnology. It gives the 
descendants of Noah's sons a^d their distribution, (i) 
Ham had four sons, who settled the lower Euphrates and 

15 



16 A.V OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

Nile valleys. The earliest civilizations were Hamitic. (2) 
Shem's five sons settled south western Asia. They were 
ancestors of the Chaldeans who conquered the earlier Ham- 
etic race on the Euphrates; the Assyrians, Syrians, Arabians 
and Hebrews. These founded the next great group of em- 
pires. (3) Japheth had seven v«^ons, from whom sprang the 
Medes, Greeks, Romans, and all the modern races of Europe. 
They scattered widely, were in obscurity for thousands of 
years, but for twenty-four hundred years have been the 
ruling races of the world. 

3. The Tower of Babel and the Confusion of Tongues 
(Gen. ii. 1-9). — Centuries pass. Population begins to con- 
centrate at Shinar, upon the lower Euphrates. They begin 
a great tower with the double purpose of making a great 
name and preventing dispersion. God's plan, expressed in 
his covenant with Noah, was for them to distribute and peo- 
ple the earth. Their sin was not in their tower, but in 
their hearts. God defeated their purpose by confounding 
their speech, which dispersed them; w^ hence Babel, confusion. 

4. The Generations of Shem (Gen. xi. 10-26). — These 
verses contain the counterpart and culmination of the fifth 
chapter. That gives the line of Seth from Adam to Noah 
inclusive. This follows the line of Shem from Shem to 
Abraham inclusive. Each line contains ten names. These 
genealogical tables are much more than family registers. 
They connect closely with the primary purpose of Bible 
history. That purpose is to trace the rise and development 
of true religion. That development follows the line of 
promise which is also the line of men of faith. The promised 
Messiah is the star of hope at the dim and distant end of 
the line ; while Enoch and Noah and Abraham are the 
heroic figures that rise above the dull level of these early 
centuries. 



CHAPTER III. 

PATRIARCHAL PERIOD, B. C. I92I-I706. FROM THE 

CALL OF ABRAHAM TO THE MIGRATION TO 

EGYPT, GEN. XI. 2/— L. 

Introductory — Mission of the Hebrews. — We have seen 
(Gen. iii. 15) the first dim promise of a Redeemer, a ray of 
hope for the race. Hope almost died out amid the corrup- 
tions that preceded and caused the Deluge. Even after the 
Deluge the sky soon became once more overcast. The early 
seats of civilization and empire on the Nile and Euphrates 
became centers of debasing idolatries. Somewhere, by vSome 
one, a stand must be made for the one true God, or the 
race is hopelessly lost. This was the sublime mission of 
the Hebrews. For the time being, God passes by the races 
of Ham and Japheth. He passes by the great Semitic race, 
save a single family of the Chaldean branch of that race. 
To keep a-ive the knowledge of God, and finall3^ through 
the promised " seed " to bring back all races to the fellow- 
ship of God — such is the divine purpose. -Hitherto the 
interest has centered in events rather than men, a few 
only of those being touched upon. The sacred historian 
has passed with gigantic strides that span the centuries, 
from peak to peak of momentous events. From this point, 
the interest centers in men ; the main stream of the history 
narrows to a single race, the Hebrews, and grows continu- 
ally fuller. The story of this period follows the lives of the 
four great patriarchs, Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph, 

those Pilgrim Fathers of the Hebrews. 

17 



18 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 



I. THE LIFE OF ABRAHAM. 

(gen. XI. 27 — XXV. 10.) 

Abraham, as the " father of the faithful," and founder of 
the Hebrew race, is one of the great characters of all times. 
His life falls naturally into two main divisions, viz: (i) The 
wanderings, (2) The settled life at Hebron. 

1. The Wanderings. — a. The Early Home. — Abraham was 
a native of Ur, on the lower Euphrates, the seat of the ear- 
liest Asiatic civilization. Either Hamitic or Turanian at 
first, it had become Semitic by conquest. It was clearly 
idolatrous {cf. Gen. xi. 26, 31. Josh. xxiv. 2). 

b. The Call and Covenant (Gen. xii. 1-3). — Here he 
heard the call of God to leave home, kin, native land, and to 
seek a country yet to be made known. Religiousl3% this 
call and its result was the most important event since the 
Fall. God coupled with this call his covenant. It embraced 
four promises: (i) A great Nation; fulfilled in the Hebrew 
or Jewish people. (2) A great Name. The Nimrods and 
Pharaohs and Caesars filled a larger place in the world's esti- 
mation while they lived, but not one of them has left so 
broad a mark in history, or so impressed himself and his 
ideas on the Race. Three great religions look back to Abra- 
ham as the Father of the faithful: Jewish, Christian, Mo- 
hammedan. (3) A Land; fulfilled in the possession of Ca- 
naan by the Hebrews. (4) A Blessing to all nations ; ful- 
filled two thousand years after in Christ and the world-wide 
proclamation of the gospel. In ever-widening circles, it is 
still in process of fulfillment. 

c. The Migration. — Every distinct national life roots in 
a migration ; but few migrations are so distinctly religious, 
or lie in so clear historic light as that of the Hebrews. At 
the age of sevent^^-five, to sever ties of kin and country, to 
go out with no knowledge of whither he was to go, called 
for heroic faith. " By faith he obeyed, and went out, not 
knowing whither he went" (Heb. xi. 8). Such a man was 




'Ccrpy^^t^ 1680. 



The AnverieajL Siatdm SAool Uhiarulfuladelphiay. 

2 



PATRIARCHAL PERIOD. 19 

fitted to found an enduring race, and make room for a vSub- 
lime truth — the unity of God. 

With his father, Terah, his orphan nephew, Lot, and his 
wife, Sarah, he moved up the Euphrates to Haran. There 
Terah died, and Abraham, still obedient to the divine call, 
leaves the basin of the Euphrates for the land of Canaan. 
He is now in a strange land, and among an alien race. At 
Shechem, God appears to him and renews the covenant, 
" Unto thy seed will I give this land." This, then, is the 
land. The migration is accomplished. 

For some years Abraham wanders from place to place. 
He sojourned in (i) Bethel, (2) the South, (3) Pvgypt, (4) the 
South, (5) Bethel. Here Lot and Abraham separate; Lot 
pitches toward Sodom in the Jordan Valley, and ends by set- 
tling in Sodom. (6) Abraham removes to Hebron in the 
South. This becomes the center of a more settled life. But 
to the last he lived in tents. Ever3^where he had built his 
altar. The tent and the altar are characteristic of his Ca- 
naan life. 

2. The Settled Life at Hebron. — The main incidents of 
this period are: 

a. The Chaldeayi Invasion. — An Elamite dynasty was rul- 
ing in Chaldea. This ambitious line had pushed their 
conquests far westward into the Jordan Valle3\ The petty 
kings of Jordan bore the yoke twelve years and then 
revolted. Chederlaomer, the Elamite ruler of Chaldea, 
crushed the revolt and carried off the people of Sodom, 
including Lot. Abraham, with three hundred and eigh 
teen trained servants, pursued and rescued the captives. 
It was on his return that he was met and blessed by ]Mel' 
chisedek, the mysterious priest-king to whom Abraham paid 
tithes. 

b. The Marriage with Hagar. — Years had passed without 
the birth of the promised son. Abraham and Sarah were 
growing aged. At Sarah''^ vSuggestion, Abraham took their 
servant, Hagar, as a secondary wife. She became the moth- 
er of Ishmael, and ancestress of the Arabians, 



20 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

c. Institution of Circumcision. — Abraham was now ninety- 
nine years old. Sarah was ten years younger. The cove- 
nant promise is still unfulfilled : for the promise is through 
Sarah, and she has no son. Once more God appears and re- 
news the covenant, vSealing it with two signs: (i) Their 
names, originally Abram (high father), and Sarai (conten- 
tious), are changed to Abraham (father of a great multi- 
tude), and Sarah (princess); (2) the rite of circumcision is 
given as a perpetual ordinance to the covenant people. 

d. The Destruction of Sodom. — The cities of the plain of 
Jordan had sunk to depths of profligacy, which made their 
continuance a menace to the surrounding nations. God de- 
creed their destruction and revealed their fate to Abraham, 
whose intercession, though it could not save the cities, was 
not wholly lost. I/Ot was snatched as a brand from the 
burning, though his wife's longing and lingering: involved 
her in the tempest of fire and brimstone that overwhelmed 
Sodom. Lot escaped to Zoar, and through his own daugh- 
ters became the father of Moab and Ammon, whose 
descendants were long rivals of the Hebrews. 

e. The Birth and Ofering of Isaac. — Abraham is now one 
hundred years old and Sarah ninety. After twenty-five 
years of wandering and waiting the light of fulfillment 
breaks upon the promise. Sarah bears a son who is named 
Isaac. But a still sorer trial awaits them. Abraham's faith 
had triumphed over love of kin and country. Will it tri- 
umph over love for his own offspring? The mysterious 
message falls upon his ears, " Take now thy son, thine only 
son Isaac whom thou lovest, and ofier him up for a burnt 
offering." Such a command would shock our moral sense. 
It would seem a conflict of duties. Not so with Abraham. 
Human sacrifice was common ; the age was full of it, and 
Abraham no doubt familiar with it. Not there lay the 
struggle. It lay rather between the call of God on one 
hand, and his love for Isaac and his hope in the covenant 
promise on the other. To that promise he had grappled 
his soul as with hooks of steel. Once more faith triumphed 



PATRIARCHAL PERIOD. 21 

(Heb. xi. 17-19). Here we reach the climax in Abraham's 
faith and experience. His son is saved ; for God did not 
really require his sacrifice. The Patriarch lives to see him 
married, with sons growing up around him. He buries 
Sarah in the cave of Machpelah at Hebron, the only spot he 
ever owned in the land of promise. There he, too, was 
buried by Isaac and Ishmael, after a century of pilgrimage 
in Canaan. 

The world has had few Abrahams. It has many Lots, 
grasping worldly advantage at eternal risks. lyOt and his 
race passed away like the morning niivSts; Abraham and his 
seed have shaped the world's destiny forever. 

II. LIFE AND CHARACTER OF ISAAC. 
(gen. XXIV. I— xxviii. 9.) 

1. Characteristics of Isaac's Life. — The story of Isaac's life 
is soon told. It is interwoven with that of his father on one 
hand, and of his son Jacob on the other. Isaac's life over- 
laps Abraham's seventy-five years, and Jacob's one hundred 
and twenty. Every important incident of his life belongs 
more properly to theirs. As a historic character, he is over- 
shadowed by them. Passive and peace-loving, he yields 
himself to his father to be offered, is apparently under the 
influence of his mother while she lives, and of his wife 
afterward, and yields well after well to the Philistines rather 
than fight for them. His long life of one hundred and eighty 
years was passed at or near Hebron in the South country. 
His was not the granite mould of Abraham nor the stormj^ 
experience of Jacob. Still, as a son of promise and an heir of 
the covenant promises, his is an honored place among the 
four Patriarchs of the period. He walks in the sublime 
faith of Abraham, and God appears to him again and again 
to renew the Abrahamic covenant. 

2. His Marriage and Family. — Abraham's brother, Nahor, 
had either accompanied or followed the family migration 
from Ur, up the Euphrates as far as Haran. There he had 



22 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

remained. Fearful of any family alliance with the idola- 
trous Canaanites, Abraham sent his most trusted servant to 
the family of Nahor at Haran. Thence he brought Rebekeh, 
daughter of Bethuel, who became Isaac's wife and mother 
of his twin sons, Esau and Jacob. 

III. THE HISTORY OF JACOB. 

(gen. XXVII. I — XLIX. 33.) 

There are two chapters in Jacob's life, corresponding to 
his two names, and the two distinct phases of his charac- 
ter. In the first, he is Jacob (Supplanter) ; in the second, he 
becomes Israel (Prince of God). The dividing line is 
Peniel, where he wrestled with the angel, and was both 
vanquished and victor. No other Patriarch's life exhibits 
anything so analogous to Christian conversion. From first 
to last, the others led a life of faith. But Israel the Prince 
was a radically different man from Jacob the Supplanter. 

1. Jacob the Supplanter (Gen. xxvii. i — xxxii. 32). — a. His 
Na?7ie. — From an incident of his birth he was named Jacob : 
heel-catcher, one who trips another, supplanter. Although he 
is the younger, the chosen line and covenant are to be 
through Jacob ; hence, at his birth, it was foretold, " The 
elder shall serve the younger.'' 

b. The Extorted Birthright. — Ksau was a hunter ; Jacob 
was a '* quiet " man and a gardener. Esau comes faint from 
the chase, ready to bargain his birthright for a share of 
Jacob's pottage, thus flinging away the covenant blessing for 
a momentary gratification. Such a character is little fitted 
to found an enduring nation or a sublime spiritual religion. 
The " quiet" Jacob prizes the birthright and covenant promise, 
but meanly wrings them from his famished brother. 

c. The Stolen Blessing. — Years pass. The time comes for 
the aged Isaac to bestow the Patriarchal blessing. Contrary 
to the divine purpose expressed at the birth of the boys, he 
determines to bestow it on Esau. But Rebekeh is not asleep. 
She proposes a fraud, and Jacob, true to his name, lends 



PATRIARCHAL PERIOD, 23 

himself to her scheme. The ruse succeeds. The dim-eyed 
Isaac and the absent Esau are outwitted, and the hands of 
the Patriarch rest in primal blessing on Jacob's head. 

d. The Flight to Haran. — The first efifect of Jacob's sin 
was to drive him from the father he had deceived, the brother 
he had defrauded, and Rebekeh, the fond partner of his guilt. 
Esau seeks his life. At Rebekeh's suggestion, Isaac sends 
Jacob to seek a wife among her kin at Haran. It is a sad 
flight; — behind, memories of childhood, shades of his own 
meanness, the spectre of Esau's vengeance ; before, God only 
knows what. Night comes on. He lies down to sleep 
beneath the stars. The dreams of the night take shape from 
the thoughts of the day. He has not utterly forsaken God ; 
nor is he forsaken of God. In the vision of the ladder God 
reveals himself as the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, 
the covenant God, and renews even to the poor, false, fleeing 
Jacob its far-reaching provisions. Awed and humbled, Jacob 
rises in the morning, sets up his stone pillow for a pillar, 
christens it Beth-el, House of God, and vows, though with a 
Jacob-like provision, that Jehovah shall be his God. 

e. The Life at Haran. — At Haran Jacob meets his match 
in his Uncle I^aban, who traps him into marrying his elder 
daughter, Leah, first, knowing that Jacob would take Rachel 
also, with whom he had fallen in love at their first meeting 
at the well. Twenty years pass in exile. At last, with large 
possessions and a numerous famil}^ he turns his face to- 
ward the old home. As he draws near the eastern borders 
of Canaan, he learns that Esau is marching with four hun- 
dred men to meet him. Once more the spectre of his own 
sins and his brother's vengeance rise before him. His soul 
is wrung with the sense of unworthiness and weakness. 
Present after present is sent to appease Esau. The family 
follow over the river Jabbok. Jacob is left alone at Peniel. 
There he wrestles all night with the mj^sterious messenger 
of Jehovah. At last the darkness vanishes ; day dawns ; the 
self-willed Jacob yields ; then he wins the coveted blessing, 
and Jacob the supplanter is transformed into Israel. 



24 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLi^ HISTORY. 

2. Israel the Prince. — Henceforth Jacob is a new man. 
*.. The brothers meet and part in peace. I^ong after, they join 
in the burial of their father. At the call of God, Israel goes 
on a pilgrimage to Bethel. His beloved Rachel dies at 
Benjamin's birth near Bethlehem. His sons vex his soul by 
their violence. Joseph, the beloved son of the beloved 
Rachel, is lOvSt to him for twenty years. Benjamin is demanded 
by the strange ruler of Egypt. But through all this dark- 
ness Israel does not let go of Jehovah's hand. Everywhere, 
during this period, he builds his altar and calls on the cove- 
nant God of Abraham and Isaac. Exile and adversity and 
the covenant hope do their work on his character. Jacob 
has become Israel, and Israel ripens into mellow, beautiful 
age. The clouds break at last. Joseph and Benjamin are 
given back to him. Life's sun sets in p'eace in Egypt, and 
his bones rest with those of his father in the ancestral tomb 
at Hebron. 

IV. THE HISTORY OF JOSEPH. 

(gen. xxxvir. I — L. 26.) 

Introductory. — Joseph's relation to the Hebrew people dif- 
fers from that of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob. They are ances- 
tors of the whole covenant people; he only one of the 
twelve sons of Israel into which the embryo nation has 
expanded. The future nation may call itself Israel, but not 
Joseph. Joseph is not head of the covenant people, and God 
does not appear to him as to the elder Patriarchs to renew 
the covenant. Still he and his brethren belong to the Patri- 
archal period, and are classed with the Patriarchs (Acts vii. 
8, 9). Joseph's story is the most touching, and his character 
the best rounded of any in Old Testament history. He 
unites some of the best traits of the older Patriarchs: the 
strength and decision of Abraham, the patience and gentle- 
ness of Isaac, the tender affection of Jacob, the faith of them 
all. His life may be divided into two chapters: (i) His 
youth in Canaan ; (2) his manhood in Egypt. 



PATRIARCHAL PERIOD. 25 

1. His Youth in Canaan. — The incidents of this period are 
shaped by two facts, viz. : 

a. His Father s Favoritism. — He was a son of his old 
a^-e the first born of Rachel, his first love, whom he regarded 
as his true wife. A further cause was, no doubt, the lovable 
character of Joseph himself Jacob's fondness showed itself 
in various ways ; notably in a tunic of many colors (or long 
sleeves) such as princes wore— a sign, perhaps, that he meant 
to transfer the birthright to him. The effect soon appeared 
in the jealousy of the older brothers. That it did not spoil 
Joseph himself is proof of peculiar strength of nature, for 
over-indulgence ruins more characters than privation. It is 
doubtful if even Joseph would have developed the robust 
manhood he afterward displayed in the enervating atmos- 
phere of his father's tent. 

b. His Brothers'' Hatred. — This was intensified by two 
dreams of Joseph. In one their sheaves bow down to his ; in 
the second the sun, moon and eleven stars do him obeisance — 
further evidence to them that he is looking forward to the 
birthright. Envy breeds hate ; hate is murder in germ. 
Their opportunity comes when Jacob sends Joseph from the 
tribal home at Hebron to his shepherd brothers, who are 
with their flocks in the vicinity of Shechem. " Behold 
this dreamer cometh ; let us slay him, and we shall see what 
will become of his dreams." Reuben, to gain time and 
restore him to his father, proposes to put him into a pit. In 
Reuben's absence, at Judah's suggestion, Joseph is sold to a 
caravan en route to Egypt. The hated tunic, drabbled in 
kid's blood, beguiles the fond father into the conviction that 
Joseph has fallen a prey to wild beasts. The curtain falls on 
a scene of family crime and grief. 

2. His IVIanhood in Egypt. — a. His Slave Life. — As the 
slave of Potiphar, captain of Pharaoh's guard, his ability 
and faithfulness soon bring him to the head of his master's 
household. His very virtue threatens his ruin. Falsely 
accused by Potiphar's wife, he is thrown into prison. 



26 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 



b. His Prison /.z/<?.— Joseph is not the man to sit down in 
despair. Brave and helpful even behind prison bars, he rises 
agam to a place of trust. From interpreting the dreams of 
two fellow prisoners he is called to interpret the dreams of 
Piiaraoh. That proves the stepping-stone to almost regal 
power in the proudest kingdom on earth. 

c. His Courtier Life.— As viceroy of Egypt, for seven years 
of plenty Joseph stores up corn against the seven years of 
famine foreshadowed by Pharaoh's dreams. The years of 
plenty go ; the years of famine come, and with them come 
Joseph's brethren for corn. Now is his opportunity. He 
seizes them as spies. Detaining Simeon as a hostage, he 
releases the rest, but refuses to see them again except they 
bring Benjamin. The old Patriarch refuses at first to part 
with Benjamin ; but hunger is a hard master, and he consents 
at last, on Judah's offer to be surety for the lad. At their 
second visit, Joseph puts his cup into Benjamin's sack, and 
charges the brothers with the theft. Then, when conscience 
is aroused, when they are ready to connect their calamities 
with their crime, when, at last, Judah nobly offers himself as 
a bondsman in Benjamin's vStead, Joseph makes himself 
known, and freely forgives their crime. Jacob is brought 
down, and the period closes with the covenant people in 
Egypt. But, though Joseph dies and is buried in Egypt, his 
dying charge (Gen. 1. 24, 25) shows how firm is his faith in 
the covenant promises and in the future of his people. 

Joseph's character is one of singular integrity. He was 
put to every conceivable test : the favoritism of his fatlier, 
the envy and gross injury of brothers, the solicitations of an 
impure woman, virtue bearing the penalty of vice, the sud- 
den elevation to honor and power, the opportunity to avenge 
every wrong — these were the crucial experiences of his life. 
No man was ever more tried ; no other ever so triumphant. 
He is the most splendid example in history of human for- 
giveness ; while Abraham himself was not so uniformly 
triumphant in his faith. Why, then, is Abraham, rather 
than Joseph, honored as the '* father of the faithful "? Clearly 



PATRIARCHAL PERIOD. 



because he was the ** Columbus of the voyage of faith." 
Abraham steered into unknown seas, to an unknown land. 
Joseph made his voyage in the light of all that Abraham, 
Isaac and Jacob were and did. 

V. THE BOOK OF JOB. 

To this age belongs the Book of Job. Not that it was 
written so early by many centuries ; but the events, the 
scenes, the drapery, the whole tone, are Patriarchal. Job is 
a powerful eastern chief whom God suffers Satan to strip 
of possessions and children, and afflict with loathsome dis- 
ease. Three friends came to console him. The body of the 
book consists of a great poetic debate between Job, his three 
friends, Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar, a bystander named 
Elihu, and Jehovah. Job maintains his integrity, and is 
restored to double his former prosperity. The book is prob- 
ably a bit of Patriarchal history idealized. It has a historic 
basis, with poetic elaboration and embellishments. The 
dramatic succession and relation of events, too elaborate and 
poetic for extemporaneous speech, point to this view. The 
subject of debate is the problem of evil — the relation of 
calamity to character; the purpose, to lead men to trust 
where they can not see. 



NOTE. 
Some Characteristics of the Patriarchal Age. 

1. It was Nomadic — Abraham, Isaac and Jacob were founders, not 
of cities, as were Menes, Nimrod and Asshur, but of a race and a faith. 
They lived in tents. They moved from place to place. Yet they were 
not aimless or lawless wanderers ; they were Pilgrims, migrating at 
the call of God, inspired by a sublime, far-reaching purpose. 

2. It was Patriarchal. — The father was (a) The ruler of the 
family. He had the power of life and death. (See Gen. xxii. lo, 
xxxviii. 24.) {b) Military chieftain. Abraham headed an expedition 
against the Mesopotamians. {c) The family priest. He builds the 
altar and offers the sacrifice for the family, {d) The fam,ily prophet. 
To him and through him God makes known his will and his purposes. 



28 A AT OUTLINE OF BIBLE HIS TO R}^. 

3. Conceptions of God.— The Patriarchs held firmly to (a) The 
unity of God. There is no trace of the prevailing- polytheism, {b) 
The personality of God. There is no touch of pantheism, no nature 
worship which so abounded in Egypt, (r) The universality of God. 
He is the God of the whole earth (Gen. xviii. 25) ; the God of Pharaoh 
as well as of Abraham and Israel ; he rules on the Nile and Euphrates 
as well as on the Jordan, {d) The holiness of God. He is never disfig- 
ured by the vices of heathen deities. The Judge of all the earth shall 
do right (Gen. xviii. 25). 

4. Forms of Worship.— There were no temples or stated feasts; 
no certain trace of the Sabbath, though the later law of Moses rests 
back on God's resting from creation on the seventh day, and there are 
traces of the weekly division of time (Gen. viii. 10-12). There were 
rude altars, animal sacrifice, consecrated memorials, vows, pilgrim- 
ages, prayers, tithes, and the rite of circumcision. 

5. Degree of Civilization.— Although the Patriarchs were no- 
mads they were not barbarians. They came in contact with the highest 
civilization of the age in Chaldea and Eg3'pt. They were shepherds, yet 
practiced agriculture. They had money and jewelry ; Judah had a 
signet-ring, and Joseph a princely garment ; and it is not unlikely 
that they were acquainted with the art of writing which flourished 
both in the Nile and Euphrates Valleys. 

6. Significance of the Covenant.— The Abrahamic covenant is 
the key to the Patriarchal Period and the whole Hebrew history. No 
doubt the story is intensely human. All natural motives play their 
part in the migrations and the family and national life. But the cre- 
ative fact and force is the covenant. It was that which made the 
Hebrews distinctive in the world. It led them to look continually for- 
ward to a land, a nation, and a " seed '^ which should bless all nations. 
Originally made to Abraham in Chaldea, it was confirmed to him in 
Canaan five or six times, renewed expressly to Isaac and repeatedly to 
Jacob. Joseph based his dying charge upon it ; while centuries later it 
is renewed to Moses at the burning bush, and expanded at Sinai into 
the national covenant. There is no measuring the creative power of 
such a faith and hope on the character of a man or a people. 



CHAPTER IV. 

PERIOD OF BONDAGE, B. C. I706-I49I. FROM THE MIGRA- 
TION TO EGYPT TO THE EXODUS, EX. I. XIV. 

I. EGYPT AT THE PERIOD OF HEBREW BONDAGE. 

The history of ancient Egypt is usually divided into 
three periods : 

1. The Old Empire. From unknown antiquity to B. C. 
2100. 

2. The Middle or Hyksos Empire, B. C. 2100-1650. 

8. The New Empire, B. C. 1650-525. From the expulsion 
of the Hyksos to the absorption of Egypt by the Persian 
Empire. 

In the first period, Menes consolidated the tribes of lower 
Egj^pt, and founded the oldest capital, ^Memphis, and the first 
of the thirty-one dynasties that ruled over Eg}- pt. Centuries 
later the Fourth Dynasty built the great pyramids. Still 
later in this period the Twelfth Dynasty transferred the seat 
of power to Thebes in upper Egypt, where they inaugurated 
the most splendid era of the first period. 

The Hyksos or Shepherd Kings of the Middle Empire 
were Semitic intruders from Asia. Rude barbarians at first, 
though able organizers, under their rule Egyptian civiliza- 
tion suffered an eclipse. 

The New Empire was ushered in by Amosis, who ex- 
pelled the Hyksos and founded the famous Eighteenth 
D^-nasty, which included Thothmes III., the Alexander of 
the Egyptians. This, with the Nineteenth Dynasty, con- 
stituted the most splendid epoch in Egyptian history. It is 



30 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

probable that the Hebrew migration from Chaldea occurred 
in the early part, and their migration to Egypt in the latter 
part of the middle period. This would account for the con- 
sideration with which the Pharaohs treated Abraham, Joseph 
and Jacob. Semites themselves, they would not share the 
Egyptian hatred for foreigners. 

II. THE OPPRESSION. 

Genesis closes with the Hebrews high in faw)r with the 
Egyptians. Exodus opens on a race of slaves. The land of 
Egypt has become " the house of bondage." So far as sacred 
history goes, these are silent centuries that intervene.* 
Dynasties may rise and fall, distant wars may be waged, 
splendid temples, whose ruins still awe the world, may be 
builded, but mere worldly glory has no place in the divine 
record. Not till the hour has struck for a new advance in the 
evolution of the promised redemption is the story resumed. 

At last " there arose a new king over Egypt which knew 
not Joseph" (Ex. i. 8). The greatest benefits are soon forgot- 
ten. Within fourteen years of Sal amis, Themistocles was 
banished ; within seventeen years of Waterloo, the Duke of 
Wellington was attacked by a lyondon mob. We can hardly 
wonder that centuries of time had effaced the sense of the 
great service rendered by the Hebrew Joseph. The " new 
king" probably points to the revplution which drove the 
Semitic Hyksos from Egypt, and restored the native rulers. 
The Pharaohs of the bondage and the Exodus are supposed 
to have been Seti I., Rameses II. and Menephthah, all kings 
of the Nineteenth Dynasty. Seti, alarmed at the rapid in- 
crease of the Hebrews, and recalling the invasion and long 



*The length of the sojourn in Egrypt is one of the unsolved prob- 
lems. The Hebrew Bible seems to make it four hundred (more exactl}^ 
four hundred and thirty^ years, cf. Gen. xv. 13 ; Ex. xii. 40, 44 ; Acts 
vii. 6. The Septuagint of Ex. xii. 40, 41, which Paul follows in Gal. iii. 
17, includes the wanderings of the Patriarchs in Canaan in the four 
hundred and thirty years. 



PERIOD OF BONDAGE. 31 

usurpation of the Hyksos, resolved to break the spirit 
of the Hebrews. He reduced them to wasting toil in 
the brickyards; still they multiplied. At last he ordered 
every male child to be thrown into the Nile. Then came 
the deliverer. 

III. BIRTH AND MISSION OF MOSES. ' 

All in all, as patriot, poet, liberator, lawgiver, historian, 
man, Moses is the greatest human character in history. The 
Pharaohs of the Eighteenth and Nineteenth Dynasties left 
their mighty deeds graven in granite. Yet their names are 
shadowy as the photographs of their recently resurrected 
mummies. Moses wrote his record on a race and in a religion. 
His name is greater after the lapse of thirty-three centuries 
than in the night when he wrung from the proud Pharaoh 
his consent to let God's people go. His life falls naturally 
into three equal divisions : the forty years in Egypt ; the 
forty years of exile in Midian ; the forty years as deliverer, 
leader and organizer of Israel. His history during the last 
forty years is the history of his people, and falls principally 
in the next period. 

1. The Forty Years In Egypt. — a. His Birth and Educa- 
tion. — Moses was born of godly parents, Amram and Joche- 
bed, of the tribe of Levi. Their older children, Miriam and 
Aaron, seem to have been born before the murderous edict 
of Seti. Not so their third child. His birth was kept a 
secret from the authorities for three months. When secrecy; 
was no longer possible, the beautiful child was committed to ■ 
the Nile in a basket of reeds. Pharaoh's daughter discovers 
and adopts him, naming him Moses. Miriam, who had fol- 
lowed the frail craft and its precious cargo, offers to call a 
nurse, and brings her own mother. Thus, in the providence 
of God, the future friend, emancipator and organizer of the 
nation is reared in the highest intellectual culture then pos- 
sible in the world (Acts vii. 22), and, by his Hebrew mother, 
in the sublimest spiritual faith then in the world. 



32 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

b. Moses^ Choice. — Moses comes to manhood. The secret 
of his Hebrew origin is his. Seeing an Egyptian taskmaster 
beat a Hebrew, he killed the Egyptian, and hid the body in 
the sand. No doubt Moses had hot blood that could beat 
hard in his veins at injustice. But the deed was no rash 
impulse of the moment. From Heb. xi. 24-26 and Acts vii. 
23-25 two things are clear: (i) He had deliberately and 
voluntarily renounced all that royalty in Egypt could offer, 
to make common cause with his enslaved brethren ; (2) he 
hoped to arouse Israel to make a bold push for liberty. 
But the time was not yet ripe, and neither he nor his people 
were yet ready. The chains must become heavier, and 
Moses himself must become disciplined for his great work. 
Egypt was a good school of the arts and sciences ; at his 
mother's knee he had imbibed the primary lessons of re- 
ligion ; but he must be much alone with God before he is 
equipped for his sublime mission. In the desert of Midian 
and the solitude of Sinai, with God as his teacher, he finds 
his university, and receives his diploma. 

2. The Forty Years in JVIidian. — Moses flees to Midian, 
east of the Red Sea. As he sat one evening on the curb- 
stone of a well, seven daughters of Jethro, priest of Midian, 
came to water their flocks. Some rude Bedouin herdmen 
drove their flocks away. Moses' spirit, so chivalrous in be- 
half of his oppressed brethren, was not less chivalrous in 
behalf of the oppressed maidens. The timely aid of this 
fugitive " Es^yptian " proved to be a favorable introduction. 
He marries Zipporah, Jethro's daughter. For forty years he 
follows the quiet vocation of a shepherd in Midian. There 
he becomes familiar with the rugged country through which 
he is to lead his people to the promised land. At last God 
appears to him in the burning bush. He reveals himself as 
the ' God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob," renews the covenant 
which played so vital a part throughout the Patriarchal 
period, and commissions Moses to deliver Israel. Moses, 
grown timid now and slow of speech, shrinks from amission 
which must take him into courts and before kings. But, 



PERIOD OF BONDAGE. 33 

armed with supernatural signs as his credentials from God, 
and with a commission to Aaron as his spokesman, Moses 
returns to Egypt. 

IV. THE GREAT CONTEST. 

Now follows the most remarkable contest in history. Moses 
meets Aaron as he leaves the land of Midian. Together 
they go before the elders of their own people, make known 
their mission, and confirm it with the appointed signs. The 
oppressed people accept their mission, and bow reverently 
before the covenant God of their fathers. They were not so 
successful with Pharaoh. In the name of Jehovah they ask 
that Israel may go three days' journey into the wilderness to 
sacrifice for Jehovah. Well for Pharaoh, well for his people, 
had he granted so moderate a request. The first effect was 
only to rivet the chains and increase the burden. Met with 
stubborn refusal from Pharaoh, and bitter reproaches from 
his toiling brethren, Moses is at his wit's end. The ten 
plagues or " strokes " follow, blow upon blow : water turned 
to blood, frogs, lice, flies, murrain, boils, hail, locusts, dark- 
ness, death of the first born. 

1. Nature of the Contest. — It was not merely a struggle 
between an enslaved race and their oppressors; a contest 
between Moses and Pharaoh. It was a controversy between 
Jehovah and the gods of Egypt. Nearly every plague was 
a natural pest of Egypt; yet their miraculous character is 
seen from several circumstances : their intensity, their multi- 
plication in so swift succession ; they come and go at 
Moses' word ; Israel is exempt save in the case of the first 
three ; and finalh', nearly every one was a blow at some form 
of Egyptian idol worship. 

2. Need of the Contest. — Remember that in all the earth 
one lone race held to the unity and spirituality of God ; and 
they were slaves i i danger of losing at once both their faith 
and their national identity. Numbers, wealth, culture, 
power, a hundred to one, vv^ere against them. A lesson was 



34 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

needed such as should never be lost ; — and it was not lost. 
Egypt's idols have moldered to dust or adorn the museums 
of antiquarians; Israel's God is worshiped by the civilized 
world. The signs and wonders in Egypt came to fill a large 
place in Hebrew literature. They became so ingrained into 
the national consciousness that they formed one of the most 
effective forces that held Israel to the ancestral faith amidst 
the seductions of an all-embracing polytheism. 

3. End of thz Contest.— The last stroke falls. The death 
angel knocks at every door in Egypt, from palace to hovel, 
and the first born lie dead. But the humble homes of the 
Hebrews are safe. Obedient to God, they have instituted 
the Passover. The lamb is slain ; its blood is sprinkled on 
the door-posts as a sign of Hebrew faith. The mysterious 
messenger passes harmlessly over those homes in which the 
paschal feast is being kept. A great cry arises from Egypt. 
The fetters fall, and Israel is driven forth to freedom. One 
last time Pharaoh's heart is hardened. He pursues ; Israel is 
trapped in a defile of the mountains, with the Red Sea in 
front of them ; the sea divides ; Israel passes through and is 
saved; the Egyptians pursue, and are overwhelmed in the 
sea.* 

V. EFFECT OF THE SOJOURN IN EGYPT. 

Bitter as was the Egyptian bondage, it accomplished im- 
portant results. 

1. It Made Israel a Nation.— They entered Egypt a group 
of twelve nomadic families. Jacob and his direct descend- 
ants numbered seventy. Including servants, the entire tribe 
may have numbered two or three thousand. Had they 
remained in Canaan, they would almost certainly have 
broken up into a dozen petty wandering tribes. Residence 
in a denselv peopled land, under the heavy hand of oppres- 
sion, compacted them into a nation. 



■'For an excellent discussion of the crossing-place, see McGarvey's 
" Lands of the Bible," pp. 438-443- 



PERIOD OF BONDAGE. 35 

2. It Civilized Them. — They left Canaan nomads. What 
measure of civilization they already had we have seen above. 
But they could not long have continued mere shepherds in 
Egypt. Egypt is, and always must have been, an agri- 
cultural country. Moreover, it had been, for a thousand 
years, the leader in the world's intellectual life and material 
civilization. The Hebrews were too gifted a people not to 
profit by the long sojourn in such a school. Moses, especially, 
" was instructed in all the wisdom of the Egyptians " (Acts 
vii. 22) ; but that he had skillful lieutenants under hini is 
evident from the account of the construction of the taber- 
nacle (Ex. XXV. — xl.). 

3. Its Closing Events Confirmed Tiiem In the National 
Faith. — Had they continued permanently in Egypt, they 
must finally have lost both national faith and national iden- 
tity. But Egypt became the blackboard on which Jehovah 
wrought lessons which Israel never forgot. In spite of re- 
peated relapses into idolatry, in the long run they were true 
to the national faith. And now they are to return to Canaan 
to conquer and possess the land in which, for two hundred 
years, Abraham. Isaac and Jacob had sojourned as pilgrims. 
But not at once. A few days' journey would have bi ought 
them to Canaan. But the work of organization and forty 
years of discipline intervene before the^' are fitted to possess 
the land of promise. 



CHAPTER V. 

PERIOD OF WANDERINGS, B. C. I49I-I45O. FROM THE 

EXODUS TO THE CROSSING OF THE JORDAN, 

EX. XV. XL., LEV., NUM., DEUT. 

I. FROM T.HE RED SEA TO SINAI. 

(ex. XV. — XVIII.) 

1. The Song of Deliveranc3 (Ex. xv.). — The emotions of 
Israel on the eastern shore of the Red Sea are not easily 
described or even realized. A humble though triumphant 
gratitude must have been the feeling uppermost. There 
was no room for pride. Their peril had been so extreme, 
their deliverance so complete and so completely of Je- 
hovah that no praise but his is heard in the magnificent 
ode which has come down to us as one of the monuments of 
deliverance. ^ 

2. The March to Rephidim — Israel could not linger at 
the scene of trumph. The national organization is to be 
completed at Sinai. The route thither for some divStance 
skirts the eastern shore of the sea ; the " wilderness of 
Shur," as the district is called to the north, and the " wil- 
derness of Sin " to the south. The sweetening of the 
waters of Ma rah and the encampment by Elim's twelve 
springs and seventy palm trees were early incidents of the 



* On the contrast between the song: of Moses and the poem of 
Pentaur, consult Gibson's '* Mosaic Era," p. 26. 







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' \^%wr^*i#r:mS:« SINAI 

A'^<\ ^•^"' -::. i;^w.r ^0... -"* f< m^v") ^ \ AND ROUTE OF THE 

. ^^\^S^:>''W'- ,.\l^?i|" J ISRAELITES 




"KTanbullVKJadesK Tiarnea" 
aniOr6naiu;e Survey: 



PERIOD OF WANDERINGS, 37 

march. A month has passed since the exodus. They enter 
the terrible Desert of Sin. * The food brought from Egypt 
begins to fail, and to the pangs of thirst are added the fore- 
bodings of hunger. Forgetful of past deliverances and of 
the sure promises of God, the people heap bitter reproaches 
on Moses for bringing them into the desert to die. And 
now began that miracle of nierc3% the manna, which followed 
them daily through the forty years of wandering, and which 
Jesus uses as the beautiful S3nubol of himself as the bread 
of heaven. 

3. The Encampment at Rephidim. — Israel now leave the 
flinty plain in the wilderness of Sin and encamp in the val- 
ley of Rephidim They are entering the defiles of the 
mountainous district known as Horeb. Here again they 
suffered for water. Moses smote the rock, and water flowed 
in abundance. Here the Amalekites made a fierce unpro- 
voked attack. The attack was repelled by picked men under 
Joshua, while Aaron and Hur held up Moses' hands in 
prayer. Here also Moses was joined by his family, who had 
remained with Jethro during the great contest and exodus. 
Jethro aided Moses by valuable advice concerning the ad- 
ministration of justice. 

11. THE YEAR AT SINAI. 

From Rephidim. Moses led Israel to Mt. Sinai. The ap- 
proach through deep defiles was well calculated to fill them 
with awe. They encamped at last on a level plain, in front 
of which the Holy Mount, like a vast granite altar, rose ab- 
ruptly to a height of one thousand five hundred feet.f 

1. The National Covenant (Ex. xix, xx.). — The Abrahamic 
covenant, so often renewed in patriarchal times, so recently 
renewed to Moses at the burning bush, was here solemnly 
renewed and expanded into a National Covenant. He who 



•■■ For a description of travel in these deserts, see Geikie, " Hours 
with the Bible," Vol. II., pp. 200, 201, 210, 211. 

fSee "Hours with the Bible," Vol, II., pp. 251-253, 261-264. 



38 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 



liad called Abraham and cared for the patriarchs; who had 
heard his peoples' sighs in Egypt and redeemed them from 
bondage; who had led them and fed them and defended them 
on their journey hither, now proposes to take them into pecu- 
liar covenant relations with himself. The covenant, prof- 
fered by God through Moses, was accepted by the people, 
written in a book, and solemnly ratified with sacrifices and 
the sprinkling of blood. This covenant was expanded into 
the Ten Commandments, originally spoken from the summit 
of Sinai amid thunders and lightnings and an earthquake. 
They were afterwards written by God on tablets of stone. 
They are as follows : 

(i) Thou shalt have no other gods before me. 

(2) Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image. 

(3) Thou shalt not take the name of the lyord thy God 
in vain. 

(4) Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy. 

(5) Honor thy father and thy mother. 

(6) Thou shalt not kill. 

(7) Thou shalt not commit adultery. 

(8) Thou shalt not steal. 

(9) Thou shalt not bear false witness. 

(10) Thou shalt not covet. 

Such was the sublime code delivered at Sinai one thou- 
sand years before the Twelve Tables of Rome, and five hun- 
dred years before the laws of Lycurgus. The decalogue was 
still further expanded into a full body of civil and ceremonial 
law. 

2. The National Priesthood. — In Patriarchal times the 
head of the family acted as priest. After the exodus, while 
the entire nation was regarded as holy, the first born were 
especially so (Ex. xiii. 2, 11-15). Later the tribe of Levi 
was set apart as a priestly tribe in lieu of the first born 
(Num. iii. 5-13). The family of Aaron were consecrated as 
priests proper, while Aaron himself, and after him his eldest 
sons in perpetual succession, held the highest office in the 
Jewish nation, that of High Priest. 



PERIOD OF WANDERINGS, 39 

3. The National Festivals. — There were three annual festi- 
vals. They all were memorials of important events in their 
national history, while they were so timed as to celebrate 
successive phases of the harvest season. 

a. The Passover, or the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, 
was instituted the night of the exodus, and commemorated 
their deliverance from bondage; while, falling on Abib 14-21 
(our early April), it also celebrated the beginning of harvest. 
The main features were the paschal lamb, eaten with un- 
leavened bread and bitter herbs, and the waving of a sheaf 
of ripened grain in token of gratitude to the God of the 
harvest. 

b. The Feast of Weeks, or Pe7itecost. — This occurred fifty 
days after the Passover, and celebrated the conclusion of 
the grain harvest. The later Jews also regarded it as a 
memorial of the giving of the law, which occurred about 
fifty days after the first passover. The chief religious cere- 
mony was the offering of the first fruits in the form of a 
baked loaf 

c. Feast of Tabernacles, or Ingathering. — This jvas kept 
from the fifteenth to the twenty-second of the seventh month. 
It was a sort of Harvest Home — a celebration of the ingath- 
ering of the fruits. It was the Jewish Thanksgiving. As a 
memorial of the forty years of tent life in the wilderness, 
they lived for a week in booths of branches. 

4. The National Sanctuary. — During the year at Sinai the 
tabernacle was built. It was a small portable temple, fifteen 
by forty-five feet. The ** holy place," fifteen by thirty feet, 
contained the altar of incense, table of shew bread, and the 
seven branched lamp, all of gold. The " Holy of Holies " 
was a cube of fifteen feet, and contained no furniture save 
the sacred ark in which were placed the tables of the law, 
the pot of manna, and Aaron's rod that budded. Into the 
Holy of Holies no one entered save the High Priest, and he 
only on the great day of atonement, when he made the 
annual offering for the sins of the people. In the open court 
around the tabernacle were placed the altar of burnt offering 



40 AiV OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTOkY. 

and the laver. The tabernacle was carried with them 
during the wilderness wanderings, and afterwards set up at 
Shiloh, which continued to be the seat of national worship 
for over four hundred years, till the building of Solomon's 
temple. 

5. The National Sacrifices. — The central features of He- 
brew worship were the sacrifices. These might be either 
animals or fruits of the land. Of animal sacrifices there 
were three main classes : 

a. Burnt Offerings. — These were offered daily, morning 
and evening; were wholly consumed, and were symbolical of 
entire dedication to God. 

b. Peace Offerings. — The characteristic of these was the 
reservation of a portion of the sacrifice for a feast to which 
the offerer might invite his friends. They were expressive 
of fellowship, communion with God, and were sometimes 
offered in vast numbers. 

c. Sin Offerings. — These might be individual or national. 
In any case, the sacrifice consisted of a single victim. A 
portion was consumed on the altar ; a portion might be 
eaten by the priest, but the vessel in which it was cooked 
must be afterwards scoured, if metal, or broken, if earthen. 
The entrails, etc., were burned without the camp. The ritual 
of the sin offering was intended to impress the lesson of the 
defilement of sin. 

6. The National Apostasy. — At the foot of Sinai occurred 
the first violation of the national covenant. In Moses' 
absence on the Mount the people clamored for gods to go 
before them. Aaron yielded. In imitation of Egyptian 
calf worship he cast a golden calf, and Israel engaged in an 
idolatrous feast. It was a direct violation of the second com- 
mandment. Moses returned with the stone tablets in his 
hand. As they had broken the covenant, he broke the 
tables on which it was written. Through his intercession 
the people were restored, though not till three thousand of 
them had fallen victims to the penalty of their crime ; the 
covenant was renewed and new tables were prepared. 



I'ERioty OF Wanderings. 41 



111. FROM SINAI TO KADESH. 

1. The Census. — Before breaking camp at Sinai a census 
of the tribes was taken. Thirty-eight years later, at the 
close of the wanderings, a second cenvSus was taken. It is 
this double census which gives its name to the Book of 
Numbers. 

2. The March to Kadesh. — From Sinai, one year after 
the exodus, Israel marched to Kadesh on the southern edge 
of Canaan. The route lay over a wearisome desert. At 
Taberah the people broke out into bitter murmurs, and were 
consumed with fire. Before resuming the march, instigated 
by the mixed multitude w^ho accompanied them, Israel 
loathed the manna, and longed for the food of Egypt. Quails 
were sent in vast numbers ; but with them came a plague of 
which multitudes perished, and the camp Taberah (burning) 
became known as Kibroth-hattaavah (graves of lust). An- 
other painful incident of the march was the sedition of 
Aaron and Miriam. Miriam was smitten with leprosy, but 
restored at the intercession of Moses. 

3. The Break-down of Faith. — From Kadesh twelve spies 
were sent to explore the land. They returned unanimous in 
praise of the land, and bearing luscious fruits as proofs of 
its fertility. But all save Caleb and Joshua reported the 
task of conquest as hopeless. The nation's faith utterly 
broke down. They proposed to elect another leader, and 
return to Egj'pt. Caleb and Joshua, who sought to encour- 
age them, narrowly escaped stoning. Often before had their 
faith w^eakened and wavered; never before had they deliber- 
ately turned their backs on the land of promise, and their 
faces tow^ard the house of bondage. It was the climax of 
unbelief (Heb. iii. 19). For thirt3^-eight years longer was 
that unbelieving generation sentenced to wander, till one by 
one their bones lay bleaching in the wilderness. Caleb 
and Joshua alone vsurvived to enter Canaan. These thirtj-- 
eight years are almost a blank. The punishment of a 



42 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

Sabbath breaker, the rebellion of Korah, Ddthan and Abiram, 
and the confirmation of Aaron's authority as High Priest by 
the budding of his rod, are incidents of this period. At its 
close Israel gather again at Kadesh for the final advance to 
Canaan. 

j IV. FROM KADESH TO THE JORDAN. 

At the second sojourn at Kadesh, Moses and Aaron sin at 
the second smiting of the rock, and are not permitted to 
enter the promised land. Here Miriam dies. The Kdomites, 
descendants of Esau, refuse a passage through their territory, 
and Israel makes a long detour to the south, touching the 
eastern fork of the Red Sea. On the way Aaron dies, and is 
buried at Mt. Hor. A pest of serpents is sent as the penalty 
for a new outbreak of unbelief. Moses lifts up the brazen 
serpent, a means of healing, and a type of Christ on the 
cross. Israel conquers Og and Sihon, powerful Araorite 
chiefs east of the Jordan. The tribes of Reuben, Gad and 
half of Manasseh settle in their territory. The king of 
Moab, alarmed at the victorious progress of Israel, bribes a 
renowned seer named Balaam to curse them. His curses are 
turned every time to blessings on his lips. But he accomp- 
lishes indirectly what he could not do directly. He involves 
Israel in sin with Moab and Midian, and thousands of God's 
people fall in the plague which is sent as the penalty. But 
at last, despite all the perils of barren deserts, fierce foes and 
their own unbelief, Israel encamps beside the Jordan on the 
eastern side. Moses delivers his farewell address, compris- 
ing the greater part of Deuteronomy. From the summit of 
Pisgah, east of the Dead Sea, he is given a vision of the 
promised land. There he dies, and is buried in an unknown 
sepulcher. His work was done. He had redeemed his peo- 
ple, transformed a race of slaves into an organized nation, 
and led them to the gates of the promised land. Together 
he lays down his mission and his life. 



CHAPTER VI. 

PERIOD OF CONQUEST, B. C. , I45O-I4OO. FROM THE 

CROSSING OF THE JORDAN TO THE DEATH 

OF JOSHUA, JOSH. I. — XXIV. 

I. PASSAGE OF THE JORDAN. 

1. The New Leader. — Moses left Israel encamped east of 
tlie Jordan. The victories over Sihon and Og had secured 
the table land east of the river. Canaan proper lay west of 
the Jordan ; a mountainous country crowded with a warlike 
people in walled cities. It was no light task that lay before 
them. Great epochs call for great men. Israel never had a 
second Moses. But new occasions call for new men. God 
who gave Moses for the work of deliverance and organiza- 
tion, now gives Joshua for the work of conquest and settle- 
ment. 

2. The Jordan Divided. — Israel had come to the Red Sea 
with a powerful foe pressing them in the rear. They came 
to the Jordan with powerful foes confronting them. Here, 
as at the sea, a signal miracle served to inspire them with 
faith, both in God and their leader. It was the time of 
harvest. The melting snows of Mt. Lebanon flooded the 
lowlands of the Jordan. There were neither boats nor 
bridges. But as the priests, bearing the sacred ark, stepped 
into the river's edge, the waters parted and Israel marched 
through the empty bed. Two stone memorials were erected, 
one in the river bed, the other at Gilgal, where they camped 
that night. 

43 



44 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORV. 

3. The Encampment at Gilgal. — Here the rite of circum- 
cision, omitted during the wanderings, was renewed, and the 
reproach of their unbelief and its penalty was rolled awav; 
hence the name Gilgal. Here also, the passover was once 
more celebrated, as it had been the night of the exodus. 
Then the Eg3'ptians were awed by the presence of the 
death angel as he passed through the land ; now the Canaan- 
ites are cowering in fear behind the walls of Jericho. Here 
also the manna ceased ; and either here, or at another Gilgal 
near Bethel, Israel remained encamped until Canaan was so 
far conquered as to be divided among the tribes. 

II. THE CAPTURE OF JERICHO. 

Before crossing the Jordan Joshua had sent spies to 
reconnoiter the enemy's strongholds. A woman of Jericho 
named Rahab, with a firm faith in the future of God's people, 
had concealed the spies and been assured of safety for her 
house on the capture of the city. During the encampment 
of Gilgal Joshua received his commission, as Moses had 
received his. God appeared, however, not in the burning 
bush, but with a drawn sword, significant of the work of con- 
quest. But that the work was to be God's rather than man's 
w^as manifest from the outset in the means chosen for the 
capture of Jericho. Jericho stood near the point of crossing. 
It was the gateway of Canaan. It must not be left behind. 
Israel had no engines with which to batter down its walls. 
At God's command they marched around it six days in suc- 
cession, bearing the sacred ark, and seven times the seventh 
day, when, with a blast on their trumpets and a mighty 
shout, the walls fell and Jericho was theirs. It was Jehovah 
who broke the yoke of Egypt, opened a way through the 
sea, fed them and led them in the wilderness, gave them his 
law and parted for them the river Jordan. And it w^as 
Jehovah who dispossessed the corrupt Canaanites and ful- 
filled his covenant to his covenant people by giving them 
the land of promise. 




i Cotryrioht 1880./ 



The AriwfUm' SxouLa^ School TTrvLoru PhiloAetphia.. 

5 



PERIOD OF CONQUEST, 45 



ITI. CONQUEST OF CENTRAL CANAAN. 

1. Capture of Al. — Ai was the key to Central Canaan. 
Israel was beaten at the first attack. The cause was found 
in the sin of Achan, who had appropriated a wedge of gold, 
some silver mone}' and a BabylonivSh mantle out of the spoils 
of Jericho. It was no time for selfish greed; and Achan 
atoned for his sin with his life. A second attack gave Ai 
and all Central Canaan to Israel. 

2. The Assembly of Shechem. — Israel are now in the 
heart of the land. The footprints of the patriarchs are all 
around them. At Shechem, Abraham first pitched his tent 
and reared his altar. At Bethel, hard by, the fugitive Jacob 
had had his vision and erected his memorial. At Shechem 
he had sojourned after his return from exile, and had buried 
the relics of idolatry brought by his family from Mesopo- 
tamia. And now that by divine power the divine covenant 
has been fulfilled, it is fitting that there shall be a solemn 
renewal and memorial of the covenant. Hence, in accord- 
ance with the previous directions of Moses (Dent, xxvii.), a 
solemn assembly is held at Shechem. Shechem lies in a nar- 
row valley between Mt. Ebal on the north and Mt. Gerizim 
on the south. In the valley between stood the I^evites. As 
they pronounced the blessings upon obedience six of the 
tribes on Gerizim responded "Amen"; as they uttered the 
curses upon disobedience the other six tribes shouted their 
" Amen " from Ebal. Then a memorial inscribed with the 
law was erected, and a sacrificial feast was celebrated. 

IV. CONFEDERACY AND CONQUEST OF THE SOUTH. 

1. Their League with the Gibeonltes. — During the years of 
conquest the main camp of Israel seems to have been at a 
Gilgal, situated in Central Canaan. Soon after the fall of Ai, 
messengers from Gibeon, a city just south of Ai, came to 
Joshua claiming to be from a distant country, and proposing 
a league providing for their own preservation. Joshua 



46 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY, 



consented. On learning of the deception, he sacredly kept the 
covenant not to destroy them, but made them " hewers of 
wood and drawers of water" to the Israelites. 

2. The Battle of Beth-horon.— The league with Gibeon 
led the cities of Jerusalem, Hebron, Jarmouth, Lachish and 
Eglon, lying to the south, to form an alliance both defensive 
and ofifensive. They attacked Gibeon, which appealed to 
Joshua. He made a night march, attacked the confederates, 
and defeated them in the great battle of Beth-horon. This 
was the famous "long day" on which, according to an 
ancient poem (Joshua ix. 12, 13), the sun and moon stood 
still at the command of Joshua. 

V. CONFEDERACY AND CONQUEST OF THE NORTH. 

One more combined effort was made by the Canaanites. 
Jabin, a powerful chief of Hazor in the north, headed a con- 
federacy which Joshua defeated at the waters of Merom. 
This ended combined resistance. The struggle died down 
into petty local contests as the several tribes completed the 
conquest in detail. This work was not done with the thor- 
oughness which God enjoined, and which was so essential 
to the purpose of their national life. Their peril lay in 
leagues of amity and intermarriages. Their only safety and 
that of pure religion was in their complete isolation. The 
failure to expel the Canaanites is the key to the condition in 
the next period. 

VI. DIVISION OF THE LAND AND DEATH OF JOSHUA. 

1. Division of the Land. — Having rendered united resist- 
ance impossible, Joshua proceeded to divide the land by lot 
among the twelve tribes. In the allotment of land the 
Levites were not counted a tribe, but they received forty- 
eight cities distributed throughout Canaan. Among these 
were the six cities of Refuge, viz., Golan, Ramoth-gilead and 
Bezer east, and Kedesh, Shechem and Hebron west ot the 
Jordan. Jacob had adopted Joseph's two sons, Ephraim and 



PERIOD OF CONQUEST. 47 

Manasseh, as his own, thus making twelve tribes without 
I^evi. They are Reuben, Simeon, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, 
Dan, Naphlali, Gad, Asher, Ephraim, Manasseh and Ben- 
jamin. 

2. Farewell and Death of Joshua. — Joshua long outlived 
the generation that witnessed the wonders in Egypt and at 
the Red Sea. With the exception of Caleb and Joshua they 
fell in the wilderness, while he lived to the age of one hun- 
dred and ten years. lyoyal to the last to Jehovah and the 
covenant, he once more calls a solemn assembly of the tribes 
at historic Shechem. There he reviews their history, and 
warns them of the dangers of apostasy, " Choose ye this 
day whom ye will serve : but as for me and my house we 
will serve Jehovah"; such the noble words with which he 
seeks to commit them and his own house anew to the service 
of God. Then erecting a stone memorial of this renewal of 
the national covenant he dismisses the assembly and is soon 
after gathered to his fathers. 



CHAPTER VII. 

PERIOD OF JUDGES, B. C. I4OO-IO95. FROM THE DEATH 

OF JOSHUA TO THE ANOINTING OF SAUL, 

JUDGES, RUTH, I. SAM. I.— X. 

I. RELIGIOUS STATE. . 

The religious condition of Israel may be thus summar- 
ized : 

1. A Series of Relapses into Idolatry. — The causes are to 
be found in 

a. Their Idolatrous Ancestry {cf. Gen. xxxi. 19 ; xxxv. 2; 
Josh. xxiv. 2-14). — Abraham had abandoned idolatry, but by 
Jacob's marriage it had re-entered the family life; and, 
although Jacob buried the idols, some traces of it probably 
continued. 

b. Their Egyptian Bo?idage {cf. Ex. xxxii. 21-34; Josh. 
xxiv. 14). — Israel must have been deeply tinged with idolatry 
to have fallen so soon and so low at the ver}' foot of Mt. 
Sinai ; and Joshua's address is conclusive evidence that the 
discipline of the wilderness did not wholly eradicate it. 

c. The Contamination of Canaanite Tribes. — Canaan was 
the center of the most debasing religion of the times. Carth- 
age, Greece and Rome drew thence the licentious features of 
their religions. Hence the divine edict to either expel or 
exterminate the Canaanites. It was Israel's only safety. 
The iniquity of the Amorites was full. The failure to obey 
the edict, and the intermarriages which followed, were a 
perpetual menace to pure religion. 

48 



PERIOD OF JUDGES. 49 

2. A Series of Consequent Oppressions. — These oppres- 
sions by neighboring tribes were a natural result. The 
morally weak became politically weak. They were also 
disciplinary judgments. Again and again, scourged into 
contrition by Moabites, or Midianites, or Philistines, Israel 
turned from the idolatry of their oppressors to the worship 
of Jehovah. In the long run the purer faith won. 

3. A Series of Deliverers called Judges. — These were 
not ideal men. They fall far below the heroes of Christian 
faith. Often superstitious, passionate, morally weak, they 
yet believed in God. In such times that was much. They 
rose above the level of their age, as Paul or Luther did above 
theirs, and so deserve a place in the roll of heroes of faith. 
Furthermore, they were patriots. In an age of intense 
tribal and local jealousy, they rose to larger patriotism. 
They were the Tells, Wallaces and Washingtons of their 
time. 

II. POLITICAL CONDITION. 

Politically there was no national organization, national 
capital, or national head. Moses gave a religious system, 
but no well-defined political polity. They were twelve tribes, 
sometimes uniting for the common defense, sometimes 
wrangling almost to the point of mutual extermination. 
Their condition has been compared to that of the Anglo- 
Saxon Heptarchy before the union under Egbert. Three 
ties, however, held them from breaking up into a dozen petty 
nations, viz: 

a. A Commo7i Ancestry and History. — Abraham was the 
founder of the race; they shared equallj^ in their reverence 
for Isaac and Jacob ; while the luster of such names as those 
of Joseph, and INIoses, and Joshua, and the glories of the 
Red Sea, the Jordan, and the Conquest were a national 
heritage. 

b. A Common Languags, the Hebrew. — There are traces 
of different dialects, but the differences could hardlj' have 
been so great as existed in England, in Alfred's time. 



50 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

c. A Common Religion. — The tabernacle liad been set up 
at vShiloh. There was the one altar. There dwelt the High 
Priest of the nation. There the national sacrifices were 
offered up daily. Thither went the representatives of the 
tribes to the three great annual feavSts. Such were the cen- 
tripetal forces at work. The Greeks had similar ties; but 
geographical conditions early developed so intense an indi- 
vidualism, that ihey never coalesced to form a nation. 
These ties held the Hebrews till they found in the prophet 
Samuel and in King David the sublime faith and the genius 
for political organization to weld them into a nation. 

III. THE SIX PRINCIPAL INVASIONS. 

During this wild but formative period of national life, 
there were six principal invasions from without. As we 
have already seen they came as a natural result of, and a di- 
vine judgment for, national apostasies. "The children of 
Israel did evil in the sight of the Ivord " ; " The children of 
Israel cried unto the Lord " — such are the alternate sentences, 
ten times repeated in the Book of Judges, which clothe the 
history with its moral significance. It is all as intensely 
human as a chapter in the history of the Crusades, or of the 
Norman Conquest; but its supreme significance lies in the 
discipline through which Israel came at last to be a nation 
whose God was Jehovah. 

1. The Mesopotamian Invasion from the East. — In Abra- 
ham's time we have seen the lords of the Euphrates ex- 
tending their empire to the Jordan and carrj'ing off Lot. 
Five hundred years have passed. Another lord of the great 
valley heads another western invasion. Eight years Israel 
groans under the yoke when Othniel, Caleb's nephew, rouses 
them to resistance and drives the invaders back to the Eu- 
phrates. 

2. The Moablte Invasion from the Southeast. — The Mo- 
abites, descendants of Lot, dwelt east of the Dead Sea. 
Under Eglon they subdued the southeastern tribes, and 



PERIOD OF JUDGES. . 51 

even crossed the Jordan and held Jericho eighteen years. 
Ehud, a Benjamite, went to carry the tribute of the tribes 
to Eglon at Jericho. In a secret interview he stabbed the 
king, escaped to the western mountains, raised an army, 
seized the fords of the Jordan, and in a pitched battle slew 
ten thousand Moabites. This gave peace, to that part of the 
land at least, for eighty years. 

8. Canaanite Invasion from the North. — ^Joshua had de- 
feated a northern confederacy, headed by Jabin, at Lake 
Merom. Under a later Jabin these northern Canaanites 
rallied and oppressed the northern tribes for twenty years. 
At last Deborah, a prophetess of rare faith and courage, 
stirred up Barak, of the tribe of Naphtali. Collecting an 
army of ten thousand men, he won a great victory in the 
plain of Esdraelon. Sisera, the Canaanite captain, fled on 
foot, and sought refuge in the tent of Jael, wife of Heber 
the Kenite, a descendant of Jethro, Moses' father-in-law. 
Jael proved the Charlotte Corday of her time, and drove a 
tent pin through the temple of the sleeping Sisera. The 
victory was celebrated by Deborah in an eloquent battle 
song (Judges xv.). 

4. Invasion of the JVIidianites from the East. — The Mid- 
ianites were Arabs, descendants of Abraham by his wife 
Keturah. They did not settle down in the land, but swept 
over it at harvest time, loaded themselves with booty, and 
were away. So terrible were their raids that Israel took to 
the hills, to walled cities, and even to caves. God raised up 
a deliverer in Gideon, of the tribe of Manasseh. He began 
at home by destroying Baal worship in his father's house 
and village. He then collected an army of thirty-two thou- 
sand men, reduced it to ten thousand by permitting the 
faint-hearted to go home ; still farther reduced it to three 
hundred by choosing those that warily took water in their 
hands and lapped. With this little band he made a night 
attack and routed the jSIidianites with great slaughter, pur- 
suing them to the edge of the eastern desert. Both victor- 
ies, that of Barak and that of Gideon, were won by northern 



52 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

tribes. The powerful central tribe of Ephraim was chag- 
rined at its small share in these glories ; and Gideon allayed 
their jealousy onl3^ by a clever stroke of flattery (Judges viii. 
1-3). Gideon became the hero of the hour. He was offered 
but declined the crown. His more ambitious but less worthy 
son, Abimelech, slew all his brothers but one, and won a 
short-lived local kingship at Shechem. He lost both crown 
and life while quelling a revolt. 

5. Invasion of the Ammonites from the East. — The Am- 
monites, like the Moabites, descended from Lot. At the 
conquest of the country east of the Jordan they had been 
crowded into the eastern desert. They soon began to press 
back upon the eastern tribes. Jephthah became the instru- 
ment of deliverance. He was a low-born, disinherited out- 
law, but was recalled, reinstated, and placed at the head of 
the forces raised to expel the Ammonites. Before going 
forth to battle, he vowed, if successful, to offer up to Jehovah 
whatever should first meet him on his return to his home. 
He won the battle, was met by his only daughter, and, on 
her, fulfilled his vow. 

6. Invasion of the Philistines from the Southwest. — The 
Philistines were an aggressive commercial people on the 
Mediterranean. They were rivals of the Phoenicians, and at 
one time captured Sidon, which thenceforth sank to a place 
in Phoenicia second to Tyre. The Philistines were the most 
inveterate foes of Israel, harassing them all through the 
period of the Judges, and even into the period of the mon- 
archy until effectually broken by David. The southern 
tribes, Simeon, Dan and Judah were especially exposed to 
their attacks. The last, and in some respects, the most re- 
markable of these military heroes, was Samson, of the tribe 
of Dan. He was a born Nazirite, i. e., pledged by his mother 
to eat nothing unclean, use no fruit of the vine, and never 
to shave his head. He was the Hebrew Hercules, delighting 
in deeds of superhuman strength, often fantastic, but always 
patriotic. From his home among the southwestern hills, 
Jie made frequent forays against the Philistines, always 



PERIOD OFJUDGES. 53 

single-handed and alone. Two successive marriages with 
Philistine women afforded the opportunity, both for his suc- 
cesses and his final fall ; for Samson was a giant weakling. 
Yielding to the entreaties of Delilah, he discloses the secret of 
his strength, and, in violation of his Nazirite vow, allows his 
hair to be cut. It was a humiliating spectacle, that of Sam- 
son, at whose name all Philistia trembled, with his head in 
Delilah's lap. He went forth from her presence, disowned 
of God, a prey to his foes. Blinded, imprisoned, doomed to 
a woman's servile work at the mill, he has an opportunity to 
renew his vow and regain his strength. Brought out at a 
feast of the Philistines to their god Dagon to amuse the pop- 
ulace, like the Swiss Winkleried he devotes his life to his 
country's liberation. Pulling down the central pillars of the 
temple, he buries himself in the living tomb of thousands of 
his foes. The power of Philistia was not broken ; but his ex- 
ploits went far to rekindle Israel's courage and make possible 
the more permanent w^ork of Samuel and David. 

IV. THE STORY OF RUTH. 

Sometime during the period of Judges occur the incidents 
narrated in the Book of Ruth. It is the one sweet restful 
story of the time. The book needs to be read entire. Elim- 
elech and Naomi lived at Bethlehem. Famine, caused, per- 
haps, by one of the many invasions, led them to migrate to 
the land of Moab. There their sons married. Ten years 
pass, and the three women are childless widows. Naomi 
turns her face homeward. Both the younger women set out 
with her. Naomi, feeling how lone a life these daughters of 
an alien race must lead in a strange land, strives to dissuade 
them. Orpah falters, then turns back. Ruth replies in 
language which has become classic (Ruth i. i6, 17). Such 
faith and devotion did not go unrewarded. On reaching 
Bethlehem, Ruth gleans in the fields of Boaz, her husband's 
kin. Instructed by Naomi, she claims the kinswoman's 
right of marriage to perpetuate her husband's name and 



54 AA" OUTLINE OF BIBLE HJ^TCyRV. 

inheritance ; and so she becomes the honored ancestress of 
David, and Mary, and Jesus. 

V. SAMUEL, THE PROPHET-JUDGE. 

(l. SAM. I. — X.) 

Samuel is the most important character between Moses 
and David. He was both the Luther and the John the Bap- 
tist of his time. His entire career, from his birth to his 
death, lifts us above the low levels of the period. The 
childless Hannah, with a Hebrew mother's longing for chil- 
dren, asked him of God, and gave him back to God. Thus 
he was reared in the tabernacle at Shiloh. 

The high priest, Kli, was also the "judge" at this time. 
He was the first to unite the two offices in one person. The 
aged Kli, though personally pure, suifered the gross sins of 
his sons to pass unrestrained. Through the child Samuel, 
God revealed the doom of KH's house. It came to pass at 
the famous battle of Aphek, where the Philistines slew Eli's 
sons and captured the ark. Eli himself fell dead at the 
news. The years of darkness that follow are relieved with 
the increasing hope that Samuel is called to be a prophet of 
God. Samuel's great work may be summed up thus : 

(i) He brought about a great national reform, renewing 
the covenant and bringing the people back to the worship of 
Jehovah. 

(2) Attacked by the Philistines, he won such a victory at 
Eben-ezer that they never renewed the attack in his judge- 
vShip. 

(3) He organized the schools of the prophets. 

(4) He "judged" Israel throughout his life. 

(5) He prepared the way for and introduced the mon- 
archy, anointing Saul, and after his rejection, anointing 
David. Thus Samuel belongs to the transition period from 
the Judges to the Monarchy. He is the last and the greatest 
of the Judges, and the first of the great line of Hebrew 
Prophets after Moses. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

THE UNITED KINGDOM, B. C. 1095-975. FROM THE 
ANOINTING OF SAUL TO THE ACCESSION OF 

REHOBOAM, I. SAM. XI. XXXI. , II. 

SAM., I. KINGS I. XI. 

I. INTRODUCTORY— THE THEOCRACY. 

1. The Original Form. — Israel were really a kingdom from 
the organization of the nation at Sinai. They were a Theoc- 
racy, a kingdom of God. Though God was to be their real 
King, Moses was at first, and in some sense the High Priests 
or the Judges afterward were, God's representatives to the 
nation. Yet an earthly king seems to have been contem- 
plated from the first. Kings were to be among Abraham's 
seed (Gen. xvii. 16). Moses laid down the law for the king 
(Deut. xvii. 14-20). 

Moreover, the earthly king supplied the most splendid 
t\'pe of the promised " seed" of Abraham, who was to bless 
all nations; hence, in later prophecy, the Messiah is to be of 
David's line, and sit on David's throne. 

2. Tlie Transition to Monarcliy. — Late in Samuel's life the 
people petition for a king. (See I. Sam. viii.) They urge two 
reasons : the unfitness of Samuel's sons to succeed him as 
Judges, and their desire for a king to lead them in war like 
the nations around them. Doubtless other reasons were the 
growing anarchy under the Judges and the increasing ag- 
gressiveness of the nations about them. 

The petition cut Samuel to the heart ; partly because of 
its apparent ingratitude to him, but chiefly because of its 

60 



56 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

manifest disloyalty to Jehovah as their real sovereign. Their 
sin, however, lay in the motive rather than in the act ; and 
he is instructed by God to yield, and with a sublime fidelity 
to Jehovah, he takes the step which sets himself aside and 
ushers in the monarchy. 

: II. THE REIGN OF SAUL. 

j (B. C. IO95-IO55. I. SAM. XI. — XXXI.) 

1. Saul's Election. — a. His Private Anoijiting. — Saul was 
the son of Kish of the little tribe of Benjamin. Going one 
day in search of his father's asses, he calls on the Prophet 
Samuel. The result of the interview is that Samuel by 
divine direction anoints Saul to be king. 

b. His Public Election. — Soon after Samuel summons a 
national assembly at Mizpah. They proceed to an election 
by the sacred lot. The lot falls on Saul, who modestly hides 
in the baggage. When brought forth his magnificent stature 
awakens great enthusiasm. Some, however, sneer at him as 
a "nobody." Saul passes the slight by in silence, and wisely 
waits an opportunity to win recognition by some kingly 
deed, 

c. The Defeat of the Ammonites. — His opportunity quick- 
ly came. The Ammonites besieged Jabesh-gilead. In dire 
straits its people appealed to Saul. Hewing a yoke of oxen 
into twelve pieces he sent a piece to each tribe, and ordered 
an iUvStant muster of fighting men on pain of like treatment 
of their oxen. Israel responded to the number of three 
hundred thousand men, and Saul, falling suddenly on the 
foe, scattered them like chaff. 

d. The Coronation at Gilgal. — Saul's victory silenced op- 
position, and, at another assembly of the tribes held at Gilgal, 
he was triumphantly crowned king of Israel. 

2. Saul's Reign till His Rejection. — a. The War of Inde- 
pendence. — Under Samuel Israel had won a victory over the 
Philistines at Kbenezer, but had never wholly thrown off their 
dependence; and recently, by disarming the Israelites, the 



THE UNITED KTNGboKf, 5t 

Philistines had sought to rivet the fetters more tightly than 
ever. As soon as he felt himself secure on his throne, Saul 
resolved to end this humiliating dependence. The most 
memorable event of the war was the victory at Michmash. 
Saul's son, Jonathan, with his armor bearer, climbed up some 
cliffs, made a sudden assault on the Philistines and threw 
them into confusion. Saul followed up the advantage and 
drove them in a panic down to the maritime plain. 

b. SauVs Other Wars. — Numerous nations were pressing 
Israel on every side, and Saul waged successful wars against 
Moab, Ammon, Edom and Zobah, a Syrian kingdom in the 
northeast. 

c. Said's Rejection. — Saul, like many a man since, degen- 
erated in office. He forgot that he was only the earthly 
representative of Israel's real King. He became disloyal to 
Jehovah, self-willed, disobedient. Sent to destroy Amalek, 
he saved King Agag as a trophy, and the best of the sheep 
and cattle for a splendid sacrifice to Jehovah. From that 
day of disobedience he was disowned of God and abandoned 
by Samuel. 

3. The Decline of Saul and Rise of David. — The remainder 
of Saul's reign falls properly within the history of David. 
David is privately anointed to be king by Samuel; sum- 
moned as minstrel to Saul's court to soothe the king's mel- 
ancholy ; in a later war with the Philistines kills the giant 
Goliath; awakens the admiration of the people and the 
insane jealousy of Saul. Twice Saul tries to kill David with 
his own hand ; seeks to ensnare him by offering his daughter 
in marriage, and finally drives him into an outlaw life and 
for several years hunts him from one hiding place to an- 
other. In a new war with the Philistines, Saul, abandoned 
of God, resorts to the witch of Endor to learn his fortunes in 
an impending battle. The next day at the battle of Gilboa, 
Israel is beaten, Saul's sons slain and Saul himself, like 
Brutus and Cassius at Philippi, dies by his own sword. 
So sets in gloom on Gilboa the sun which rose in splendor at 
Jabesh-gilead. 



58 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY, 

4. Characteristics of Saul's Reign. — Saul was not a builder 
of citiCvS, a political organizer, a patron of literature, or a 
promoter of true religion. He was a military genius, and 
did much, at a time when tl\e nation was in danger of over- 
throw, to give it military standing among its neighbors. As 
such, he was a man after the people's heart. But he grew 
too self-willed, too disloyal to Jehovah to fulfill God's pur- 
jpose in the Theocracy, and was removed to make way for 
one who would be true to the national ideal, the man after 
God's own heart. 

III. LIFE AND REIGN OF DAVID. 

(B. C. IO55-IOI5. I. SAM. XVI. — XXXI., II. SAM., I. KINGS I. — II. II, 
I. CHRON. XI. — XXIX.) 

David's Place in History. — Abraham, Moses, David— these 
are the three great names in Old Testament history. Abra- 
ham was the Founder, Moses the Law-giver ; while David 
was preeminently the King. His reign marks the climax 
in national power and prosperity. But David was more than 
king; he was the Poet of his people. Next to Moses, 
David's life and writings occupy the largest place in He- 
brew literature. Indeed, of his personal history we know 
far more than of any other Old Testament character. The 
events of his life and reign may be grouped under five 
epochs, viz.: 

1. Epoch L — Shepherd Life at Bethlehem. — a. Birthplace 
and Family. — David was the son of Jesse and great-grandson 
of Boaz and Ruth. The tribe of Judah, to which he belonged, 
though designated in Jacob's Patriarchal blessing (Gen. xHx. 
8-12) as the royal tribe, had as yet done little to distinguish 
itself David was born at Bethlehem, a village insignificant 
in itself, yet forever sacred, not only as his own early home, 
but far more as the birthplace of his greater Son. 

b. His Occupation. — David was a shepherd, a humble yet 
honorable calling, and one which called for courage and 
watchfulness. Among the recorded exploits of his youth 







End>n.-(xet>'t 



i *» 



DAVID ASD SOLOMON 



and of the two Kingdoins 
of Israel and Judah 



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6 



THE UNITED KINGDOM. 69 

was the slaying of a lion and a bear in defense ot his flock. 
Many of his Psalms bear the traces of his outdoor shepherd 
life. 

c. His Private Anointing. — After Saul's rejection, Samuel 
was sent to anoint a son of Jesse to succeed him. He was 
impressed with the appearance of the eldest, Eliab. Ivven 
Samuel seems to have forgotten for the moment that not 
majesty of appearance, but integrity of heart fits men for 
high trusts. Saul had been a man after the people's heart, 
imposing in appearance, a military hero, and little more. 
One by one Jesse's sons pass in review only to be rejected, 
till David is reached. He is the man " after God's own 
heart," who will be loyal to Jehovah as Israel's real king. 
The anointing was private, and probably not fully understood 
even in the family. 

d. Minstrel to Saul. — The spirit of the " Lord came upon 
David from that day forward." " The spirit of the Lord 
departed from Saul and an evil spirit from the Lord troubled 
him" (I. Sam. xvi. 13, 14). Such is the expressive record 
which follows the account of David's anointing. According 
to a custom, common in ancient times, Saul's courtiers 
sought to quiet his troubled and darkened spirit with music. 
The young David, already famous as a musician, was sum- 
moned as minstrel to the king's court. His presence at 
court, however, seems to have been only temporary, or, per- 
haps, occasional, as we soon meet him again with his father's 
flocks. 

e. David's Battle with Goliath. — Saul was soon engaged in 
another Philistine war. For forty days a huge giant named 
Goliath had offered to stake the issues of war on single com- 
bat, but Israel had no champion who dared pick up the gage 
of battle. The youthful David, sent on some errand to his 
brothers in the army, accepted the challenge, and with no 
weapon but his sling and no armor but faith in Jehovah, 
vanquished the braggart Philistine. A general engagement, 
with victory for Israel, followed. David's daring deed had 
two results: it knit the soul of Jonathan, Saul's son, to David 



60 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

in tender, enduring friendship, and led to David's becoming 
a member of Saul's military household. 

2. Epoch II. — David's Life at Saul's Court. — a. Saul's 
Jealousy. — On the return of the army from the war the women 
went out in triumphal procession singing, " Saul hath slain 
his thousands and David his ten thousands." Saul knew 
himself to be a rejected king, and doubtless began to suspect 
that David was the coming man. *' And Saul eyed David 
from that day forward." 

David bore himself modestly, but his growing popularity 
fanned the flame of Saul's jealousy. Saul made repeated 
attempts to kill David ; twice with his own hands, once 
urging his courtiers to kill him ; seeking to ensnare him by 
giving him his daughter, Michal, in marriage and requir- 
ing the slaughter of one hundred Philistines as a dowry. 
Throughout his trying period, Jonathan steadfastly be- 
friended David, but finally became convinced that his father 
had formed a settled purpose to kill him, and generously 
aided him to escape. 

3. Epoch III. — David's Outlaw Life. — For several jears 
David was an outlaw, hunted by Saul, betraj^ed by people 
whom he had befriended, safe nowhere. Like Joseph, like 
Alfred the Great, like Robert Bruce, he was trained for the 
throne in the school of adversity. After fleeing from Saul's 
court, David visited Nob, where the Tabernacle seems to 
have been located, and was fed by the priests with the shew 
bread and armed with Goliath's sword. He continued his 
flight to Gath, a Philistine city, the former home of his old 
antagonist, Goliath. Even there he is not safe, for the Phil- 
istines soon discover his identity, and he hides himself in 
the cave of Adullam in western Judah. Soon a company of 
bold spirits gathered around, and he became the leader of an 
outlaw band. Taking his aged parents across the Jordan to 
the land of Moab for safety, he returns to the wild hill coun- 
try skirting the western edge of the Dead Sea. Saul hunts 
him from one stronghold to another. Twice Saul is in 
David's power; but David magnanimously spares his life. He 



THE UNITED KINGDOM. 61 

will not lift up his hand against the Lord's anointed. Though 
king himself by right of divine election and anointing, he 
will bide God's time. Sometime during this period occurred 
the last touching interview between David and Jonathan. 
Circumstances made them natural rivals ; but no rivalry 
could endanger the friendship of two souls so heroic. Once 
more David resorts to the Philistines. Achish, their king, 
receives him kindly, but he is distrusted by the Philistine 
lords; and, in their last war with Saul, their jealousy of 
David relieves him from a painful dilemma, as Achish 
wished him to take part against his own countrymen. Fi- 
nally, Saul's defeat and death at Gilboa opened the way for 
David to the throne. 

4. Epoch IV.— King Over Judah; Civil War.— What kind of 
a king will this freebooter make ? One of the vulgar sort, 
taking vengeance en personal foes, enriching himself by 
wholesale confiscations ? Not such was the " man after 
God's own heart." The magnanimity and self-control which 
marked him as outlaw and exile still characterized him as 
king. He dealt generously with his late rival, executing a 
lying Amalekite who hoped to win a reward by claiming to 
have slain Saul on the battlefield. He also composed a 
tender elegy on Saul and Jonathan. During his outlaw life 
David had so borne himself as to win the confidence of the 
leaders of his own tribe of Judah, and they now promptly 
recognized him as king. Hebron was an old ancestral city 
of the Patriarchal times. There Abraham had lived ; there 
Isaac was born, and there, in the cave of Machpelah, Abra- 
ham and Sarah, Isaac and Rebekeh, Jacob and Leah lay 
buried. It was also at the time of the Conquest one of the 
royal cities of the Canaanites. Here David fixed his capital ; 
here he was publicly anointed by the men of Judah, and 
here for over seven years he reigned over the one tribe. The 
other tribes adhered to Saul's son, Ishbosheth. He was a 
weakling, a mere figure-head. His general, Abner, was the 
master-spirit of his cause. Mahanaim, east of the Jordan, 
was chosen as their capital, and for seven years with eleven 



63 A.V OUILINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

tribCvS at their back they maintained a rival kingdom. After 
seven years of civil war Ishbosheth quarreled with his gen- 
eral, Abner, who at once made overtures to David to bring 
all the tribes under his rule. Before it was brought about 
Abner was foully assassinated by David's general, Joab, who 
seems to have been jealous of Abner. With Abner's death 
the rival kingdom collapsed, and David was triumphantly 
crowned king of all Israel. 

5. Epoch v. — King Over all Israel. — David was a second 
time publicly anointed at Hebron. His reign of thirty-three 
years over all the tribes falls naturally into two divisions or 
periods. 

a. Period of I7icreasi7ig Prosperity and Power. — This was 
also a period of marked fidelity to God. David's first step 
was to select a more central capital. Jebus or Jerusalem 
was an old Canaanite capital. Twice since the Conquest — 
once in the days of Joshua, and once in the period of the 
Judges — the city had been captured ; but the Jebusites con- 
tinued to hold the citadel, and therefore to control the city. 
David at once reduced it to subjection, transferred thither 
the ark, thus making it the religious as well as the political 
capital. From David's day it has been the city of all cities 
to the Hebrews. But he did not stop with the subjugation 
of this fragment of a Canaanite tribe. Great as Saul was in 
war, David was far greater. He pushed his conquests in 
every direction over Philistines and Edomites and Moabites 
and Ammonites and Sj^rians, till every nation from Egypt to 
the Euphrates owned his authority. Phoenicia retained its 
independence, and with its king, Hiram, made a friendly 
alliance. Thus the covenant promise to Abraham was ful- 
filled in its largest geographical extent in the empire of 
David. 

b. Period of Decline. — Great as David was, he was nor 
above temptation. Forming a guilty attachment for Bath- 
sheba, wife of Uriah, an army officer, he had him exposed to 
death in battle, and married Bathsheba. The Prophet Nathan 
confronted the king with his crime, and by the parable of 



THE UNITED KINGDOM. 63 

the ewe lamb made him realize its enormity. The fifty-first 
Psalm is the ripened expression of David's repentance. But 
no repentance could avert the consequences of his crime. 
From that day David's sky was clouded with domestic mis- 
fortunes. One son murders another for a wrong to his sister. 
His darling Absalom perishes in a revolt which nearly cost 
the king his throne and his life. His trusted general, Joab, 
is concerned in the conspiracy of the oldest son, Adonijah ; 
and to secure the succession of Solomon, David has him 
crowned. His own death soon follow^ed, after a reign of forty 
years. 

6. Characteristics of David's Reign. — David's reign was 
the most glorious in Hebrew history. Solomon's surpassed 
it in outward splendor, but in vigor and the best elements 
of prosperity, David's reign marks the climax. 

a. It was a Military Reign. — Egypt and Assyria had 
declined at this period, leaving the lesser nations of w-estern 
Asia to themselves. The only safety lay in supremacy. 
The brilliant successes of Saul's earlier years were eclipsed 
by David's victorious campaigns, and from Eg>'pt to the 
Euphrates, David's empire rose to overshadowing greatness. 

d. It was an Age of hiternal Improvement. — David was a 
born ruler of men, a natural organizer. He organized the 
political administration and industrial forces of the king- 
dom; introduced useful and ornamental arts; built store- 
houses and castles ; above all, he enlarged and fortified 
Jerusalem, built there a royal palace, and made the " city of 
David " the pride of the nation. 

c. It was a Literary Reign. — The finest poems in the 
Bible are the Psalms, and the best of the Psalms are David's. 
But David was not the only author, nor poetry the only form 
of literature, as we shall see further along. Above all 

d. It ivas a Religious Reign. — Despite his one dark crime, 
David was at heart a deeply religious man. The current of 
his life was right. Faith in God, loyalty to God, gratitude 
to God — these are the traits which most distinguished him 
from every other king, and which he powerfully impressed 



64 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

Upon the nation. He transferred the sacred ark from Kirjath- 
jearim, where it had remained since its capture and return 
by the Philistines, to Jerusalem. He organized and quick- 
ened the religious life of the nation, bringing it up to the 
highest level it ever attained. He made preparations for the 
temple which he was restrained from building only by the 
prohibition of God. In enthusiastic devotion to the worship 
of the one true God, David furnished the model for all later 
kings. " He walked in the ways of David." " He walked 
not in the ways of David "; such is the formula with which 
the historian eulogizes or condemns David's successors. He 
also furnished the highest type of the Messiah who was to 
reign in righteousness over all the earth. 

IV. REIGN AND CHARACTER OF SOLOMON. 

(l. KINGS II. — XI., II. CHRON. I. IX.) 

1. Solomon's Accession and Dominions. — Solomon was the 
first Hebrew king " born in the purple." The question of 
the succession has been one of the troublesome ones in all 
history. David had a score or more of sons by his different 
wives. Amnon and Absalom, as we have seen, had died 
violent deaths. Passing by other older sons, David selected 
Solomon to succeed him. His choice was, perhaps, due in 
part to his partiality to Bathsheba, the mother of Solomon, 
but probably more to Solomon's superior qualifications. 
Through David's promptness in having Solomon crowned at 
the time of Adonijah's rebellion, he succeeded peaceably to 
the throne at David's death. But signs of another conspir- 
acy in favor of Adonijah appearing, Solomon promptly 
ordered both Joab and Adonijah to be executed. He was 
thus left undisputed sovereign over his father's vast domin- 
ions. During a reign of forty 3'ears, no serious troubles 
within or wars without interfered with his plans for internal 
improvement. 

2. Solomon's Wise Choice. — Soon after his accession 
Solomon celebrated a splendid religious festival at Gibeon, 



THE UNITED KINGDOM. 65 

seven miles north of Jerusalem, where the old Tabernacle 
still stood. Evidently the burden of empire lay on his young 
heart, for in a dream that night God appeared to him and 
offered to grant whatever he should ask ; a dangerous 
liberty, we almost feel. Passing by the lower objects of 
common minds, Solomon asked for wisdom to rule his people. 
" He showed his wisdom by asking for wisdom "; and wis- 
dom far above all contemporaries was given him. Illustra- 
tions of his wisdom are given in practical judgment (I. Kings 
iii. 16-28), and in scientific knowledge and literary skill (I. 
Kings iv. 29-34). Of his three thousand proverbs, less than 
one thousand have come down to us ; and only one out of 
one thousand and five of his "songs" have been preserved, 
unless w^e include Ps. Ixxii. and cxxviii., both ascribed .to 
him. Such literary activity in the midst of his many admin- 
istrative duties and great building enterprises show intel- 
lectual genius of high order; and the record is readily 
understood that " There came of all people to hear the 
wisdom of Solomon, from all kings of the earth," as w^ell 
as the saying of the Queen of Sheba, " The half w^as not 
told me." 

3. Solomon's Temple. — One of the first cares of the young 
king was the erection of the temple. David had already 
adopted plans and made extensive preparations. An alliance 
with Hiram of Tyre secured cedar from Mt. Lebanon and 
skilled workmen. Seven years were spent in its erection. 
The main building was only thirty by ninet}' feet (double 
the Tabernacle), a diminutive structure beside the great 
heathen temples and Christian cathedrals of the world ; but 
in richness it was unrivalled. It was lined with gold at an 
estimated cost of six hundred million dollars. But its 
supreme distinction consisted in the entire absence of any 
visible image of the invisible God. In an age of gross, 
sensuous idolatry it stood for a vSublime spirituality, " Be- 
hold the heaven of heavens can not contain thee; how much 
less this house which I have builded." " Hear thou in 
heaven thy dwelling place." Such are the lofty conceptions 



66 A AT OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

expressed by Solomon in his dedicatory prayer. The com- 
pletion of the temple was the realization of David's ideal of 
a national capital. The nation's mission was not militar}^ 
but spiritual, dominion ; not material, but moral, splendor. 
The legitimate limit of material forces was at that point 
where they ceased to minister to spiritual ends, and to aid 
in the realization of the national ideal. The first temple 
stood over four hundred years, until its destruction by 
Nebuchadnezzar. 

4. Solomon's Other Buildings. — Solomon's reign was the 
Augustan age in Hebrew architecture. '• He made silver to 
be as stones and cedar as sycamore trees." He built a mag- 
nificent palace for himself, and one for Pharaoh's daughter, 
who seems to have been regarded as his true queen, and 
numerous fortresses and cities in various parts of his empire, 
the most famous of which was Tadmor, the Palm3'ra of 
Roman days. 

5. Solomon's Commerce. — The Hebrews were originally 
a pastoral people, caring for flocks and herds. In Eg3'pt, 
and after the Conquest, they were an agricultural people, 
raising fruits and grains, as well as stock. Now, for the first 
time, they became a commercial people. Through tlie 
Tyrian Alliance they carried on trade along the Mediterran- 
ean as far as Tarshish in Spain ; while through ports on the 
Red Sea they had an extensive trade with India. They also 
exchanged products with their nearer neighbors, the Phoeni- 
cians, Egyptians and Arabians. 

6. Solomon's Apostasy. — Few biographies are so disap- 
pointing as that of Solomon. He ncTcr sank to the low 
levels of the common herds of kings ; but the fulfillment of 
his later years falls painfully below the splendid promise of 
his youth. 

a. Violation of the Law of the Kin^. — Moses (Deut. xvii. 
14-20) had laid down the law of the king. In three ways 
Solomon violated it: (i) By multiplying horses (I. Kings x. 
26), the sign and symbol of militarism; (2) by multiplying 
wives until his harem contained one thousand of them ; (3) 



THE UNITED KINGDOM. 67 

by greatly multiplying silver and gold, which could only be 
done by the impoverivshment of his people. He added to 
these 

b. Serious Violations of the Fundamental Law of the 
Theocracy. — " Thou shalt have no other gods before me " ; 
such was the very first commandment. Israel was pledged 
to its sacred observance. To displace the universal poly- 
theism with a pure spiritual worship was the mission of the 
nation ; it had no other sufficient reason for national exist- 
ence. " When Solomon was old his wives turned away his 
heart after other gods." 

c. Elements of National Weakness and Decay. — These 
violations of the law of the king and the law of the kingdom 
proved to be elements of weakness, and brought upon his 
house the judgment of God. The doom of impending divis- 
ion was revealed to him, and his later life showed signs of 
discontent at home and restlessness among the tributary 
nations abroad. No serious outbreak occurred, however, 
and Solomon closed his. long reign in comparative peace. 

V. THE RISE OF THE PROPHETS. 

In his own age, and for centuries after, Moses stands out 
in solitary grandeur. Not a prophet is even named between 
Joshua and Samuel. But with Samuel and the mon- 
archy the era of great prophets begins. The prophet was 
the necessary counterpart of the king; and from the days of 
Samuel and Saul his picturesque figure and impressive mes- 
sage are rarely wanting till the volume of Old Testament 
history closes. Samuel is altogether a more important 
personage than Saul. David, himself one of the greatest of 
the prophets, is constantly advised and warned and rebuked 
by the prophets. Prophets played an unimportant part in 
the reign of Solomon, though one appears near the close. 
The prophets of the period are Samuel, Gad (I. Sam. xxii. 
2; II. Sam. xxiv. 11), Nathan (II. Sam. vii. 2-17: xii. 1-T2; 
II. Kings i. 8-24), Iddo (II. Chron. ix. 29; xii. 15; xiii. 22), 



68 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

and Ahijah (I. Kings xi. 29-39; II. Chron. ix. 29). None of 
their teachings have come down to us save here and there a 
fragment, like Nathan's parable, imbedded in the history. 

VI. LITERATURE O^ THE PERIOD. 

It is impossible to give the date of the earliest Hebrew 
literature. It is not improbable that the Pentateuch 
rests partly on documents earlier than Moses. Lamech's 
" Sword Song " (Gen. iv. 23, 24) and the snatches of 
poetry in Num. xxii. 12-17, 27-30, point to very ancient 
poetical compilations. The Book of Joshua, probably 
composed in the time of Samuel, quotes from a " Book 
of Jashar," now lost. From the days of David a rich 
historical literature sprang up, far surpassing anything that 
the older empires of Egypt or Chaldea or Assyria have be- 
queathed to us. The Books of Judges and Ruth probably 
date from his reign. Other historical works of the period 
were the " History of Samuel," the " History of Nathan," the 
" History of Gad" (I. Chron. xxix. 29), and the " Book of the 
Acts of Solomon " (T. Kings xi. 44), works now lost, but 
doubtless the basis of our present books of Samuel and 
Kings. But the age of David and Solomon is especially 
distinguished for its splendid outburst of poetic and " wis- 
dom " literature. Seventy-two of the Psalms are ascribed to 
David, and two (the vSeventy-second and one hundred and 
twenty-eighth) to Solomon. The literature of Solomon loses 
much of the spiritual fervor of David's writings, but gains in 
r'^^culative power and artistic finish. The chief works are 
Proverbs, Ecclesiastes and The Song of Solomon. * 



* Ecclesiastes may belong to a later period. 



CHAPTER IX. 

THE NORTHERN KINGDOM, B. C. 9/5-722. FROM THE 
ACCESSION OF REHOBOAM TO THE FALL 

OF SAMARIA, I. KINGS XII. XXII., 

II. KINGS I. XVII. 

I. INTRODUCTORY. 

From this point the widening current of Hebrew history 
parts into two streams. The story in its details becomes 
more complex. Hitherto our chapters have corresponded 
to chronological periods. The same plan would give •' The 
Double Kingdom " and " Judah Alone " as the caption of 
this chapter and the next ; but it seems better for the sake 
of historical unity and simplicity to treat separately each 
of the two kingdoms into which the nation divided. 

1. Origin of the Schism. — a. Its Roots. — "The disruption of 
the kingdom was not the work of a day but the growth of 
centuries." Throughout the long period from Joshua to 
David the two tribes of Joseph (Ephraim, Mannasseh), and 
that of Benjamin, rather than the tribe of Judah, held the 
preeminence. To Ephraim had belonged Joshua, Deborah 
and Samuel; to Mannasseh, Gideon and Abimelech; to 
Benjamin, Saul and Jonathan. 

The tribe of Ephraim, especially, had repeatedly shown 
a proud sense of superiority and independence ; * and 
events proved that her leaders were only biding their time 
to break away from the rule of Judah. 



* See Joshua xvii. 14-18 ; Judges viii. 1-3; xii. 1-6. 



70 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

b. Accession and Policy of Rehoboam. — " Solomon had a 
thousand wives and only one son, and he was a fool." At 
Rehoboam's accession the people petitioned him to lighten 
the taxes which, under Solomon, had grown so oppressive. 
Rehoboam forsook the counsel of his older counsellors and 
followed that of the young men, answering that his little 
finger should be thicker than his father's loins. 

c. Jeroboam and the Revolt. — Solomon had had an able 
officer named Jeroboam. It is significant that he was an 
Ephraimite. Owing to Solomon's idolatry, which violated the 
fundamental law of the Theocracy, the Prophet Ahijah had 
foretold the rending of the kingdom and elevation of Jero- 
boam over ten tribes. Jeroboam fell under Solomon's sus- 
picion and fled to Egypt, but returned at Solomon's death. 
Upon Rehoboam's harsh refusal to lighten the taxes, Jero- 
boam headed a revolt of ten tribes. The result was two 
rival kingdoms : 

(i) A Southern Kingdom of the two tribes of Judah and 
Benjamin, known as Judah. 

(2) A Northern Kingdom of the ten tribes called Israel. 

2. The Two Kingdoms Compared. — a. Territory and 
Population. — In an important sense, the Northern Kingdom 
was more national than the Southern; it embraced ten out 01 
twelve tribes, hence it retained the national name, Israel. Its 
territory was not only far larger, but vastly richer, both in 
natural resources and in historical associations. While 
Judah held Jerusalem and Hebron, Israel owned Shechem 
with its wealth of memories ; Shiloh, the early home of the 
tabernacle ; Bethel, Ramah and Gilgal, where Samuel had 
founded schools of the prophets ; and Dan, which had long 
been a seat of worship (Judges xviii. 14-31). Moreover, the 
dependencies and allies of the Davidic Empire, so far as they 
were retained at all, belonged mostly to Israel. As time 
went on, however, Israel lost by the migration of the Levites 
and other more spiritual elements to Judah (II. Chron. 
XV. 9, 10). 



THE NORTIJERN- K/.VGDOM. 71 

b. Their Religion. — The kings of Israel, from first to last, 
were idolatrous, and the people grew to be more and 
more so. Yet it is interesting to note that nearly all the 
great early prophets either belong to Israel or are sent on 
missions to Israel. Abijah, Shemaiah, Elijah, Elisha, Mi- 
caiah, Jonah, Hosea, Amos, Zechariah, Jehu, are all, either by 
birth or mission, Northern prophets. Judah, though often 
idolatrous, was far more loyal to Jehovah. 

c. Eleme7its of Stability. — The greater stability of Judah 
is seen in the following facts : (i) Judah had a single capital 
throughout, Jerusalem, the city of David and Solomon, 
and of the temple. Israel had several capitals in succession : 
Shechem, Tirzah and Samaria. (2) Israel continued only 
two hundred and fifty years; yet in that time nine dynasties 
with nineteen kings sat on the throne. Every new dynasty 
began in a bloody revolution, only to be itself blotted out in 
blood. Judah endured for nearly four hundred years with 
only twenty sovereigns, all, save the usurper, Athaliah, 
belonging to the line of David. 

II. THE FOUR PERIODS. 

The histor}^ of the Northern Kingdom may be divided 
religiously into four unequal periods : 

1. Idolatry Taklnj Root; Fifty Years, Three Dynasties, Five 
Rsigns. — The leading character was Jeroboam, founder of 
the kingdom. Fearing the political effect of a single center 
of worship at his rival's capital, he selected Dan in the far 
i]orth and Bethel in the extreme south of his dominions. 
Both were already popularly regarded as sacred places. 
There he set up the form of idolatry known as the calf wor- 
ship. It will be remembered that it was a form of Egyptian 
idolatry into which Israel fell at Sinai, and that Jeroboam 
himself had been a recent exile in Egypt. It was probably 
not meant as an abandonment of Jehovah, but as the use of 
a visible image of the invisible God. If so, it was a viola- 
tion of the second commandment rather than the first. 



f2 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORV. 

Solomon's idolatries seem to us worse, yet the sacred histor- 
ian can not refer to Jeroboam without a shudder. " Jeroboam 
the son of Nebat who did sin and who made Israel to sin," 
is the form of words on which he has been gibbeted forever. 
Jeroboam stood at the parting of the ways. By divine 
appointment he was to found a dynasty and a kingdom. 
That dynasty and kingdom might have had a glorious des- 
tiny ; but so much depends on the founder, whether he be 
an Abraham or a Jeroboam ; and Jeroboam by his policy, 
half worldly, half religious, blasted Israel's prospects forever. 
He also created a new priesthood and a new system of relig- 
ious feasts. The policy seemed politically wise at the time, 
but proved ruinous in the end. Israel's political safety lay 
in its religious purity. The remaining kings of the period 
were Nadab, Baasha, Blah and Zimri, the last, like Baasha, 
being a usurper, and perishing after an inglorious reign of 
seven days. Throughout this period Israel and Judah were 
in a state of chronic hostility, breaking out at times into 
open war. 

2. Idolatry Triumphant; Fifty Years, One Dynasty, Four 
Reigns. — a. Omri a?id the New Capital. — The founder of the 
dynasty was an army officer named Omri. Quickly beating 
down the usurper, Zimri, and waging a successful civil war 
with an adventurer named Tibni, he became securely seated 
on the throne. Zimri had burned the palace at Tirzah over 
his own head. Omri abandoned Tirzah, and bought and 
built Samaria, which continued to be*the capital till the fall 
of the kingdom, and gave its name to a district and a people 
afterward. 

b. Ahab; Jezebel; the Baal Worship. — Omri's son Ahab 
married Jezebel, daughter of Ethbaal, the priest-king of 
Sidon. The heathen blood and religion ran like poison 
through several generations of Hebrew sovereigns in both 
kingdoms. She was a woman of imperious will and fanatical 
zeal, whose name for nearly three thousand years has been a 
synonym of all that is hateful in womankind. She intro- 
duced the licentious Baal worship, and began so fierce a 



THE NORTHERN KINGDOM. 73 

persecution that the worship of Jehovah, which had lingered 
on among the people, was well nigh rooted out. 

c. Era of Elijah. — The one sublime character of the 
period is the Prophet Elijah. He boldly confronted Ahab 
with his sins ; prophesied a three years' famine as a penalty 
for national apostasy; was fed by ravens at the brook 
Cherith, and later by a widow of Zarephath in Jezebel's own 
land; finally faced Ahab again and summoned a national 
assembly on Mt. Carmel, and there proposed to the hun- 
dreds of priest-prophets of Baal and Ashtarte a test: the God 
who answered by fire should be the nation's God. The awed 
multitude, won for the moment from their idolatries by the 
divine response which consumed Elijah's sacrifice, destroyed 
the false prophets. In further response to Elijah's prayer, 
the long drouth was broken by a copious rain, and Elijah 
ran in triumph before Ahab's chariot to Jezreel. But the 
brazen Jezebel sent a threatening message to Elijah, who 
fled to Horeb. There God meets the dejected prophet, tells 
him that there is a remnant of seven thousand who have 
never bowed to Baal, an " Israel within Israel," and sends 
him back to finish his work. Elijah returns, anoints Elisha 
to be prophet in his stead, pronounces the doom of Ahab's 
house, and was soon after carried to heaven in a chariot of 
fire, while the dynast}^ of Omri and Ahab was extinguished 
in blood by the ruthless Jehu. After Moses, no other 
prophet in all their history left so vivid an impress on the 
Hebrew mind. Legend and proverb gathered about his 
name, and his return was fondly anticipated by the last 
prophet of the Old Testament, and the people of the New. 
And 3'et he wrote and spoke almost nothing that has come 
down to us. Ivike his great anti-type, John the Baptist, it is 
what he did rather than what he said that has given him his 
high place in the roll of Hebrew prophets. 

d. Political Relations. — The remaining kings of the house 
of Ahab were Ahaziah and Jehoram. The hostility toward 
Judah continued until toward the latter half of Ahab's reign, 
when an alliance was formed against Syria and cemented by 



74 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 



an intermarriage between the two royal families. Wars with 
S3'ria were frequent, and Moab threw off its dependency, 
which had continued from David's time. An interesting 
side-light is thrown on this period by the Moabite Stone. * 
Distant Assyria, once so powerful in the region of the Medi- 
terranean, emerges again from an obscurity of one hundred 
and fifty years to an activity soon to swallow up so many 
petty kingdoms of the west. From this time the Assyrian 
inscriptions shed frequent light on our story. 

3. Idolatry Checked; One Hundred Years, One Dynasty, Five 
Reigns. — This is the period of the little kingdom's greatest 
prosperity ; but it was the last flicker of the flame, the " Indian 
summer" of Israel. KHsha took up the work of reform with 
better success than Elijah. Jehu, the founder of the dynasty, 
exterminated the house of Ahab in a whirlwind of revolution, 
and with it the Baal worship ; but he resumed the calf wor- 
ship of Jeroboam. Jehoahaz, Jehoash, Jeroboam II., and 
Zachariah succeeded him. Jeroboam II. reigned forty-one 
years, and raised the kingdom to its greatest power. He 
was aided by the Prophet Jonah, who was sent on his mission 
to Nineveh, now rapidly rising to supremacy in western 
Asia. The Prophet Hosea also raised his eloquent voice 
against the idolatries of Israel. 

4. Idolatry Ending in Ruin; Fifty Years, Four Dynasties, 
Five Reigns. — The kings, some of whom are mere puppets of 
Assyria, are Shallum, Menahem, Pekahiah, Pekah and Ho- 
shea. The Assyrians begin the work of deportation in the 
reign of Menahem. Pekah, a sovereign of some vigor, forms 
an alliance with Syria against Assyria and little Judah, 
which had become tributary to Assyria. Tiglath-pileser II., 
of Assyria, puts an end to the kingdom of Syria, and puts 
Israel to heavy tribute. The end comes when Hosea revolts 
from the Assyrian yoke. Shalmanezer IV. invades the land 
and besieges Samaria. The city holds out for three years, 
during which time Sargon succeeds Shalmanezer on the 



*See lEdersheim, "Hist, of Israel and Judah," Vol. VI., pp. 112-117. 



THE NORTHER]^ KINGDOM. 



Assyrian throne, completes the siege and capture of Samaria, 
and carries away the Ten Tribes into captivity, from which 
they never return. Untrue to Jehovah and their national 
mission, they lose their national identity forever. Assy- 
rians, imported into the land, mingled with the remnants of 
the Ten Tribes. This mixed race, with a mongrel religion, 
continued for centuries, and constituted the Samaritans of 
the time of Christ. 



CHAPTER X. 

THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM, B. C. 975-586. FROM THE 
ACCESSION OF REHOBOAM TO THE FALL OF JERU^ 

SALEM, I. KINGS XII. XXII., II. KINGS 

I. XXV., II. CHRON. X. XXXVI. * 

Introductory. — The fall of Samaria put an end to the 
kingdom of Israel, and closed the period of the double 
kingdom. Judah lasted nearly one hundred and fifty years 
longer; and as the capture of Samaria was a far less im- 
portant event to Judah than to Israel, we may preserve 
unity by treating the four hundred years of Judah's history 
as one period. 

The history of Judah illustrates the enduring influence of 
a great name. David's reign had furnished the ideal king 
and kingdom. The prophetic hopes and instincts of the 
nation gathered about him and his line . After the moral 
shock of Solomon's idolatries, they gathered for a time about 
Jeroboam and the Northern Kingdom. Rehoboam was not 
suffered to quell the revolt. Jeroboam and Jehu were both 
prophetically designated as founders of dynasties; but both 
utterly disappointed the prophetic hopes. Finally, after 



* In any detailed and complete study of Hebrew history the prophet- 
ical writings must be studied. They throw a flood of light on the 
material, moral, social and political state of the nation. It is noteworthy 
that Chronicles, probably written by Ezra after the exile, is a history 
of David and his line. The reign of Saul and the history of the Northern 
Kingdom are almost entirely omitted. 



THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM. 77 

Samaria and Israel went down before Assyria, the little 
kingdom of Judah " gathered into itself the whole national 
spirit " in its best sense. 

We must not forget the main purpose of Bible History, 
viz., to trace the origin and progress of true religion. He- 
brew history must be studied in the light of that object. 
Thus viewed, the four hundred years of the Southern King- 
dom may be divided into four periods of decline and revival, 
each closely connected with the character of the kings 
reigning at the time. It will be remembered that Judah, 
unlike Israel, had a single dynasty throughout, that of David. 

I. FIRST DECLINE AND REVIVAL. 

FOUR REIGNS, NINETY YEARS. 

1. Decline Under Rehoboam and Abijam. — a. Religion. — 
The pagan tendencies begun under Solomon continued and 
increased for the next twenty years. Despite the protests of 
prophets, the worship of God fell off, heathen altars sprang 
up all over the land, and gross immoralities spread among 
the people. 

b. Relatio7is to Israel. — At the secession of the Ten Tribes 
under Jeroboam, Rehoboam raised an army to quell the 
revolt ; but, yielding to the advice of the Prophet Shemaiah, 
he gave up the attempt. The two kingdoms continued 
hostile, however; and, during Abijam's reign of three years, 
he inflicted a crushing defeat on Israel at the battle of 
Zemaraim. 

c. Invasion of Shishak. — Solomon had married an Egypt- 
ian princess : but a new dynasty arose on the Nile which 
sided with Jeroboam. Shishak, a king of this dynasty, 
invaded Palestine, captured Jerusalem, and stripped the 
temple of its golden splendors. Shishak himself has left a 
striking confirmation of the Bible account, carved on the wall 
of the great temple at Karnak.* 



*See ^dersheim, "Hist, of Israel and Judah," Vol. V., pp. 129, 130. 



78 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

2. Revival Under Asa and Jehoshaphat. — a. Reforms. — Asa's 
reign of forty-one years was in marked contrast with the two 
preceding ones both in purity and vigor. For several years 
he enjoyed profound peace, which he improved by removing 
the heathen altars and images and reorganizing the worship 
of Jehovah. Jehoshaphat reigned righteously for twenty- 
* five years. He continued and carried still further his father's 
reforms, provided for regular religious instruction, and reor- 
ganized and improved the judicial system. 

b. Invasion of Zerah the Ethiopian. — Asa's peace was 
broken by an invasion of one million Ethiopians under 
Zerah. Asa went into battle with an earnest prayer to God, 
and won so decisive a victory that Judah did not sufifer 
another invasion from that quarter for three hundred years. 
Asa celebrated the victory by a great assembly, at which the 
national covenant was renewed and the work of reform still 
further promoted. 

e. Matrimonial Alliance. — In the latter part of his life 
Asa made an alliance with Syria against Israel. Jehoshaphat 
reversed his father's policy by forming an alliance with 
Judah, giving his son to Ahab's daughter in marriage, and 
aiding Ahab against the Syrians. 

II. SECOND DECLINE AND REVIVAL. 

NINE REIGNS, TWO HUNDRED YEARS. 

1. The Decline. — a. fehoram and Athaliah. — Jehoram, 
Jehoshaphat's son, succeeded to the throne. He had married 
Athaliah, the daughter of Ahab. She carried into Judah 
the fierce spirit and gross Baal worship of her mother 
Jezebel. The work of Asa and Jehoshaphat seemed in a fair 
way to be undone. After eight years Jehoram was succeeded 
by his son Ahaziah ; but within a year he perished in the 
pitiless doom which Jehu of Israel visited on the house of 
Ahab. Athaliah escaped, seized the reins of government, 
massacred all the royal family but the infant Jehoash, and, 
for six years, was more than the Jezebel of Judah. The line 



THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM. 79 

of David was now reduced to a single babe, while a heathen 
queen sat on his throne; so near was the Davidic line to 
extinction; so bitter the fruits of Jehoshaphat's mistaken 
marriage polic3\ 

b. Joash and the Reaction. — Athaliah was finally slain in 
an uprising under the aged High Priest, Jehoiada, who 
placed the young Joash on the throne. For a few years it 
seemed as though the kingdom was to be carried back to 
the purer days ; but after Jehoiada's death, downward tend- 
encies prevailed again, and the Prophet Zachariah suffered 
martyrdom under Joash. 

c. Uzziah. — Of the three reigns which follow, Amaziah, 
Uzziah and Jotham, that of Uzziah is most noteworthy. It 
was a vigorous, and, in the main, prosperous reign of fifty- 
two years. His successes were his ruin. Presuming to offer 
incense, which was a priestly, not a royal, duty, he was 
smitten with leprosy, from which he never recovered. 

d. Ahaz and Apostasy. — Idolatrous influences deepened 
until, in the reign of x\haz, they ripened into open and general 
apostasy. Not content with images and altars of Baal every- 
where, *'he made his children pass through the fire " ; i. e.y 
sacrificed them to the god Moloch. Moral decay was followed 
by political decline. Harassed by Edomites, Philistines, 
Syrians, and even by Israel, which was now near its down- 
fall, Ahaz, by the payment of a heavy tribute, made a de- 
fensive alliance with Assyria, now at the summit of its power. 

2. The Revival Under Hezekiah. — a. Isaiah and the Re- 
form. — We have reached the period of the earliest prophets 
of Judah whose writings have come down to us: Joel, Amos,' 
Micah, Nahum and Isaiah. Isaiah, whose prophetic writinrrs 
have well been called the '< fifth gospel," preached and 
counselled and prophesied through parts of four reigns. He 
is the most prominent character in the reign of Hezekiah. 
Indeed, he is the first prophet of Judah who overshadows 
both priest and king. In Israel both Elijah and Elisha 
dwarfed the kings in comparison with their heroic person- 
alities. Isaiah is the first to fill a like place in Judah. He 



80 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

is statesman as well as prophet, and appears much at royal 
court. Although his burning words seemed lost in the 
reign of Ahaz, they bore fruit at last. While the Northern 
Kingdom was in its death struggle with Assyria, Hezekiah, 
inspired by Isaiah's counsel, was giving new lease of life to 
Judah by promoting religious reform. Not since the days 
of David had a prince sat on the throne so pure in purpose 
and constant in its pursuit. The foul Baal worship and the 
horrible Moloch rites gave way to the worship of Jehovah. 
He destroyed the brazen serpent made by Moses, which had 
become an object of idolatrous worship, and restored the 
passover festival at Jerusalem, inviting the remnants of 
Israel to join in its celebration. 

b. The Invasion of Sen7iacherib. — To this reign belongs 
the celebrated invasion of Sennacherib, of Assyria. Ahaz 
had become tributary to Assyria ; but Hezekiah, against the 
advice of Isaiah, exchanged the Assyrian for an Egyptian 
alliance, and refused the tribute. Sennacherib invaded 
Judea, captured many cities, carried off two hundred thou- 
sand captives, and besieged Jerusalem. He was drawn away 
by a threatened Egyptian invasion, and, by some mysterious 
calamity, lost one hundred and eighty-five thousand men in 
a single night. Byron has celebrated the event in the poem 
beginning: 

" The Assj^rian came down like the wolf on the fold." 

Sennacherib's inscriptions at Nineveh recount his suc- 
cesses, but not this calamity, though Herodotus refers to it. 

III. THIRD DECLINE AND REVIVAL. 

THREE REIGNS, NINETY YEARS. 

1. Decline Under Manasseh and Amon.— The reforms of 
Hezekiah and Isaiah proved only temporary. No doubt 
there had been an idolatrous court party all along. At 
Hezekiah's death they got the upper hand again, and, under 
bis son Manasseh, who reigned fifty-five years, the nation 



THE SOUTHERN A'/NGDOAf. SI 

plunged more rapidly than ever the downward road. All 
known idolatries seem to have been adopted ; Baal worship, 
Moloch worship, Chaldean star worship, witchcraft, fierce 
persecution which filled Jerusalem with blood — such were 
the crimes of this long reign. If Jewish tradition may be 
trusted, Isaiah suffered martj-rdom at this time. A tem- 
porary captivity of Manasseh at Babylon sobered him and 
slightly checked idolatry; but his son, Amon, imitated his 
father's worst practices, and perished in a revolt. 

2. The Revival Under Josiah. — a. Jeremiah and the Re- 
forms. — The death of Amon brought Josiah, a child of eight 
5'ears, to the throne. His reign of thirty-one j^ears was the 
last gleam of sunshine for the little kingdom. He ranks 
with Hezekiah as a ro3^al reformer; and Jeremiah was to him 
in some measure what Isaiah had been to Hezekiah, although 
the earlier reforms seem rather to have been inspired by the 
Prophetess Huldah, while Jeremiah's greatest activity was in 
the darkening years that followed Josiah's death. At sixteen, 
Josiah seems to have taken affairs into his own hands, and to 
have turned personally to God ; at twenty, he began to purge 
Jerusalem of idolatry ; at twenty-six, he undertook the repair 
of the temple. In the course of the repairs, a copy of the 
law was found, which, during the long dark reign of Manas- 
seh, seems to have been lost. Still further inspired by its 
teachings and solemn warnings, he kept the most famous 
passover since the days of Samuel. Assj^ria was now 
declining, and Josiah extended his power over the old terri- 
tor}- of the Ten Tribes ; at least, he abolished the calf worship 
at Bethel and other cities of Samaria, and made a tour of the 
kingdom to personally superintend the work of reform. 

b. The Battle of Megiddo. — Josiah's prosperous reign 
had a disastrous ending. The great Assyrian and Egyptian 
empires were again at war. Pharaoh-necho was on his w^ay 
to seize Charchemish, on the upper Euphrates. Josiah 
unwisely interfered, and at the battle of Megiddo lost his 
life. The death of Josiah proved the doom of Judah. He 
was the last king who '* walked in the ways of David," and 



82 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

was loyal to the national covenant. Great was the grief of 
Jeremiah, which found expression in an elegy on the good 
king. 

IV. FINAL DECLINE ANT^ CAPTIVITY. 

1. Moral Decay. — Josiah's reforms had evidently not been 
rooted in the convictions of the nation at large. They were 
rather enforced by royal authority, and fell so soon as that 
authority was withdrawn. There was a small select circle, 
of which Jeremiah was the soul, and to which the youth 
Daniel and his companions belonged, who constituted the 
true Israel, the germ of a future national life ; but the mass 
of the nation were hopelessly corrupt. Even Isaiah, more 
than one hundred years earlier, had written, *' Ah, sinful 
nation, a seed of evil doers, children that are corrupters : 
they have forsaken the Lord, . . . the whole head is 
sick, the whole heart is faint. From the sole of the foot 
even to the head there is no soundness in it, but wounds and 
bruises and putrifying sores *' (Isa. i. 4-6). And Jeremiah's 
writings show a deepening darkness through this closing 
period. Idolatry, drunkenness, greed, lust and brutal vio- 
lence are characteristic vices. This moral decay was the 
forerunner of political dissolution. 

2. A Succession of Captivities. — Four kings followed 
Josiah: Jehoahaz, Jehoiakim, Jehoiachin, and Zedekiah. The 
third was a grandson, the others sons, of the good Josiah. 
All were puppets, either of Egypt or of Babylon ; for in the 
early part of this period Nineveh, the proud capital of 
Assyria, which for so many centuries had lorded it over 
Western Asia, sank before the combined assaults of Media 
and Babylon. Henceforward Babylon and Egypt were the 
upper and nether millstones between which Juda-h was 
ground to dust. Pharaoh-necho carries off Jehoahaz and 
puts his brother Jehoiakim on the throne. But Babylon 
will not tolerate Egypt as a rival in Asia. A succession of 
invasions and captivities of Judea by Nebuchadnezzar, the 
powerful king of Babylon, closes the drama. 



THE SOUTHERN KINGDOM, 83 

a. First Captivity. — He captured Jerusalem (b. c. 606), 
but spared King Jehoiakim, contenting himself with carry- 
ing into captivity certain of the people, among whom were 
Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego. As they v/ere 
princes of royal blood and loyal to the national religion, the 
king was doubtless glad to be rid of them. He himself came 
to a violent death after a reign of eleven years. 

b. The Secofid Captivity. — In 597 Nebuchadnezzar made 
a second invasion. He carried away King Jehoiachin, who 
was kept a captive for thirt5^-five years. The Prophet Ezekiel, 
with ten thousand of the upper classes, went into captivity 
at the same time. Zedekiah was placed on the throne, and 
for eleven years reigned as the creature of the^reat monarch 
of the Euphrates. 

c. The Third Captivity. — All this time there was an 
Egyptian party at Jerusalem which chafed under the Bab- 
ylonian yoke, and favored an alliance with Egypt. Jeremiah 
announced the judgment of God upon the nation to be a 
seventy years' captivity in Babylon, and counseled submis- 
sion to that power. For this he was imprisoned in a loath- 
some dungeon. At last some new rebellion brought the 
armies of Nebuchadnezzar once more against Judah. In 586, 
after a distressing siege, he captured Jerusalem, slew Zede- 
kiah's sons before his face, put out his ej-es, and carried him 
in chains to Babylon. The walls of the city were broken 
down, the temple and palaces burned, and the upper classes 
carried away into captiviti'. Jerusalem, the City of David, 
tlie city of precious memories, was no more, save in the 
hearts of a few faithful ones wlio, through seventy years of 
exile, longed for the Holy City, and looked fondly forward to 
the promised return. 



CHAPTER XI. 

PERIOD OF EXILE, B. C. 586-536. FROM THE FALL OF 
JERUSALEM TO THE RETURN UNDER ZERUBBABEL. 

Introductory — Review and Summary. — We have now traced 
the history of man, of^sin, and of the earlier stages of redemp- 
tion. We have followed the fortunes of the Chosen People 
for fifteen hundred years, from the call of Abraham through 
successive periods : Patriarchal, Bondage, Wanderings, 
Conquest, Judges, United Kingdom, Double Kingdom, and 
Judah Alone. We have seen, in the days of David and Sol- 
omon, a glorious outburst of national life, succeeded by 
division and decline. 

The Northern Kingdom has gone down in political dark- 
ness and spiritual night. Judah, after one hundred and 
forty years more of fitful life, is broken up, Jerusalem in 
ruins, and king and people borne to Bab3-lon, seven hundred 
miles distant, into helpless captivity. Everywhere brutality, 
gross superstition and idolatry are triumphant. To all 
human appearance, the experiment of human redemption is 
a failure; the knowledge of God is forever lost. But it is no 
experiment. Out of the darkest night there arose the 
brighest star of hope. It was after the fall of the Northern 
Kingdom, and during the decline and exile of Judah, that 
.such prophets as Micah and Isaiah and Jeremiah and Daniel 
and Zechariah wrote their sublime prophecies of the coming 
Christ and his world-wide spiritual reign. It begins to be 
dimly felt that the Hebrew Theocracy is only the thorny 
stalk of which a purely spiritual kingdom is to be the 

84 



PERIOD OF EXILE. 85 

consummate flower and fruit. Till the flower blooms, the 
thorny stalk must stand. Hence, though exiled and scat- 
tered, there must be, for Judah, a return and a renewal of 
national life. 

The Captivity had been repeatedly foretold by such 
prophets as Isaiah, Micah, Huldah and Jeremiah.^ These 
prophecies were unconsciously fulfilled by Nebuchadnezzar 
in his successive captures of Jerusalem and deportations of 
the Jewish population. 

1. Jeremiah and the Egyptian Exiles (II. Ki. xxv. 22-26; 
Jer. xl. — xliv.). — After the destruction of JerUvSalem, a scanty 
remnant was left as husbandmen and vine dressers. Jere- 
miah declined a safe conduct to Babylon, preferring to 
linger amid the desolations of the land he loved. But the 
remnant quarreled among themselves. Their governor, 
Gedaliah, was murdered by a gang of Jewish conspirators 
under Ishmael. The rest, fearing the vengeance of Neb- 
uchadnezzar, fled to Egy^pt, under the lead of Johanan. 
Jeremiah entered an earnest protest against the migration 
to Egypt, but was compelled to leave the dear old land, and 
accompany the exiles to Egypt. There, at the frontier town 
of Tahpanhes, the great prophet wrote his last prophecy. Ac- 
cording to an early Christian tradition, he suffered martyr- 
dom at the hands of his fellow exiles; according to Jewish 
tradition, he escaped from Egypt and made his way to 
Babylon. But in this, as in so many other cases, as with 
Isaiah and Ezekiel and Daniel and Peter and Paul and John, 
the Scriptures, so enricl>ed by his writings, are silent as to 
the closing scenes of his life. There is no account of any 
return of the Egyptian exiles. 

2. Daniel and th3 First Babylonian Captivity (II. Ki. xxiv. i ; 
II. Chron. xxxvi. 5-8; Dan. i. — xii.). — We have seen that 
Nebuchadnezzar made three invasions of Judea. At the first 
(B. C. 606) he carried away four young men of the royal line : 



* See ir. Ki. xx. 17 ; xxi. 10 15 ; xxii. 14 17 ; Jer. xxv. 9-1 1 ; xxxiv. 2, 
3 ; Micah. iii. 8-12. 



8!) A^V OUl 'L IX E O F BIB LE 11. SI OR Y. 

Daniel, Shadrach, Meshacli and Abed-nego. They were 
honorably educated at the king's court, but early distin- 
guished themselves by their noble stand against Babylonian 
luxury and Babylonian idolatry. 

a. Nebuchadnezzar's Dream. — Daniel first came into 
notice by interpreting Nebuchadnezzar's dream of a great 
image with head of gold, breast of silver, thighs of brass and 
legs of iron. As interpreted by Daniel, the head represented 
Nebuchadnezzar and the Babylonian empire ; the other parts, 
the great empires which were to succeed his. 

b. The Three Men in the Fire. — After his dream, Neb- 
uchadnezzar became puffed up with pride. He set up a 
great image, and ordered every man to fall down and wor- 
vShip it. Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego had the cour- 
age of their convictions, and refused. As a penalty, they 
were thrown into a fiery furnace, but were miraculously 
preserved. 

c. DanieVs Visions. — Daniel himself had various vis- 
ions of successive world-empires: Babylonian, Persian, 
Macedonian, Roman, and of a kingdom which God should 
set up which should fill the whole earth and stand for- 
ever. 

d. Daniel in the De7i of Lions. — Daniel lived to see Bab- 
ylon go down before the rising power of Persia. His com- 
manding abilities moved the envy of the Persian courtiers, 
and for his fidelity in daily prayer they had him thrown to 
the lions, but he was providentially preserved. 

3. Ezekiei and the Second Babylonian Captivity (II. Ki. 
xxiv. 8-i6; II. Chron. xxxvi. 9, 10; Ezek. i. i, 2). — At his 
vSecond invasion (about B. C. 597), Nebuchadnezzar carried 
away ten thousand captives, among whom was the Prophet 
Ezekiei. They were settled at the river Chebar, which 
empties into the Euphrates three hundred miles above Bab- 
ylon. False prophets arose among them, promising a speedy 
return. Jeremiah wrote them a letter from Jerusalem, 
telling that the captivity should last seventy years (count- 
ing from the^ first deportation, B. C. 606), and counselling 



rElUGD OF EXILE. 87 

them to build houses and plant gardens (Jer. xxix.). It was 
at the river Chebar that Ezekiel wrote the visions that make 
up the body of his book; and it is at this period that the 
137th Psalm, beginning •• By the rivers of Babylon," was 
written. 



CHAPTER XII. 

POST-EXILE PERIOD, B. C. 536-4OO. FROM THE RETURN 

UNDER ZERUBBABEL TO THE CLOSE OF 

THE OLD TESTAMENT CANON. 

The return from the Babylonian captivity was as dis- 
tinctly foretold as was the captivity itself; and the return 
was usually connected with the fall of Bab3'lon {cf. Isa. xiii.; 
xiv.; Jer. xxv. 12; 1.; li., etc., Dan. ix. i, 2). It will be 
noticed that Jeremiah prophesies the length of the captivit}^ 
as seventy years. This return of a captive nation is a unique 
fact ; there is nothing like it in history. There were three 
distinct periods of return, 

1. The Return Under Zerubbabel (B. C. 536. Dan. ix.; 
Ezra. i. — vi.). — Daniel knew from the prophecies that the 
seventy years of captivity were expired, and made earnest 
prayer to God in behalf of his people. Cyrus the Great, 
conqueror of Bab3'lon and founder of the Persian empire, 
influenced perhaps by Daniel, issued a decree permitting the 
Jews to return to Palestine. Zerubbabel, a prince of the 
royal line, headed the first company of about fifty thousand. 
They carried back the temple vessels which Nebuchadnezzar 
had carried away. They immediately erected an altar on 
the site of the old one. and soon after laid the foundations of 
the second temple, amid the acclamations of the young, and 
the tears of the old who had seen the splendors of the first 
temple. The Samaritans asked permission to join in the 
work. Zerubbabel, fearing the effect of an alliance with a 
mongrel race and their mongrel religion, refused. The 



POST-EXILE PERIOD. 89 

SamaritanvS then used their influence at the Persian court to 
stop the work. For sixteen years it was at a standstill. 
Finally, under the inspiration of the Prophets Haggai and 
Zechariah, the work was completed, though not without 
continued annoyance from the Samaritans. From this time 
till the time of Christ there continued to be a bitter feud 
between the Jews and the Samaritans. 

2. The Story of Queen Esther (Esth. i. — x.).— Sometime 
between the first and second returns occurred the incidents 
narrated in the book of Esther. Ahasuerus, the Xerxes of 
Greek and Persian history, is displeased with the Queen 
Vashti, and divorces her. He marries Esther, a beautiful 
Jewish maiden, without knowing her nationality. Haman, 
a Persian courtier, puffed up with some new promotion, is 
vexed at Mordecai the Jew, Esther's uncle, because he will 
not bow to him, and plans the extermination of the Jews 
throughout the empire. Ahasuerus unwittingly consents to 
the decree. Esther, at the risk of her life, heroically ven- 
tures unbidden into the king's presence, to intercede for her 
people. Her petition is granted, and Haman is hung on the 
gallows he had prepared for Mordecai. 

3. Return and Reforms Under Ezra (B. C. 458. Ezra 
vii.—x.).— About eighty years after the return under Zerub- 
babel, Ezra, a Jewish priest, led a small company of about 
seven thousand back to Jerusalem. Most of Zerubbabel's 
co-workers must have been dead. Ezra was distressed to 
find that the Jews were intermarrying with the Samaritans 
and neglecting the law of INIoses. He reformed abuses, and 
edited the Old Testament writings. Tt was probably about 
this time that the synagogue services were instituted for 
better instruction in the Scriptures. 

4. The Return of Nehemiah (B. C. 445. Neh. i.— xiii.).— 
The story of Esther shows that the bulk of the Jews did not 
return, but, in large numbers, remained scattered throughout 
the empire. Among these Jews of the dispersion was Nehe- 
miah. He held the honorable post of cup-bearer to King 
Artaxerxes Eongimanus. Through a company of Jews 



00 ^^V OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

recently arrived at Shushan (Susa), he learned of the desolate 
and defenseless state of Jerusalem. He asked permission of 
the king to go to Jerusalem and build its walls. Armed 
with the king's commission as governor of the province, he 
went to Judea. In the face of threats and incessant annoy- 
ance from the Samaritans, he pushed the work with such 
courage and vigor that in fifty-two days the walls were com- 
pleted, though men had to work with one hand and hold 
their weapons in the other. For twelve years Nehemiah 
remained as governor of the Jews, generously maintaining 
his ofl&cial household at his own expense to lighten the bur- 
dens of the impoverished people. He then returned to 
Persia, but made a later visit to Jerusalem, correcting mixed 
marriages, Sabbath violations, and other abuses which had 
crept in. 

5. The Last Prophet and Close of the Old Testament. — In 
Nehemiah's time, or soon after, the last note of Hebrew 
prophecy was uttered by Malachi. He reproves the priests 
for violating the marriage covenant, and the people for 
formality in religion, and appropriately closes the Old Testa- 
ment Canon with a prophecy of " Elijah the prophet," the 
forerunner of the Messiah, the John the Baptist of the New 
Testament. 

6. The Pause in Sacred History. — So closes the volume 
of Old Testament History. For four hundred years the 
voice of prophecy is silent. The chosen people dwell again 
in the promised land, but only as a fragment of vast empires. 
They have ceased to be an independent nation. They linger 
on for five hundred years more of troubled political life, suc- 
cessively subject to Persian, Macedonian and Roman, with 
one brief gleam of nationality under the Maccabees. But the 
eclipse of political independence only served to intensify 
their national exclusiveness. Whatever faults the Jews 
developed through the four centuries before Christ, idolatry 
was not one of them. The discipline of captivity, the noble 
example of Daniel and his companions, and the work of Ezra 
and Nehemiah cured that forever. Amid the imposing 



POST-EXILE PERIOD, 91 



idolatries of niiglit3' nations there was one little despised 
people who held fast to the unity and spirituality of God; one 
oasis in the universal desert of polytheism. The thorny 
stalk of Judaism was divinely protected till it burst into 
bloom in the promised Son of David and Son of God, and 
his religion of universal love; then it was swept away for- 
ever in the storm of war waged by Titus and his Roman 
legions. , > 



CHAPTER XIII. 

INTERVAL BETWEEN THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. 

I. INTRODUCTORY— HISTORICAL CHASM — SOURCES OF 
INFORMATION. 

Between the Old Testament and the New there vStretches 
a historical chasm of four hundred years; a period equal in 
length and importance to that which lies between the acces- 
sion of the English Tudors and the present. During those 
centuries Greece produced her masterpieces of literature and 
art ; Alexander carried the power of Greek arms and the 
more beneficent power of Greek arts all over Western Asia ; 
while Rome, from a frontier town on the Tiber, had grown 
into the vast " Monarchy of the Mediterranean," uncon- 
sciously, with her wide extension of Roman roads, Roman 
laws, Roman civilization, preparing the way for a still 
wider extension of God's kingdom of righteousness. During 
these centuries the voice of the Hebrew^ prophet and the 
pen of the inspired historian were alike silent. We depend 
for our knowledge of Jewish affairs upon three main 
sources, viz.: 

1. The Old Testament Apocrypha. — These are Jewish writ- 
ings of this period, a sort of uninspired appendix to the Old 
Testament. They throw considerable light on the history 
of the time, but fall far below the canonical books. While 
the monuments of Egypt, the inscribed bricks of Babylon, the 
clay tablets of Nineveh, and a multitude of other discoveries 
are more and more confirming the historical accuracj^ of the 
Scripture records, the apocryphal writings are proved to 

92 



INTER VAL. 



abound in anachronisms, and other historical and geograph- 
ical errors. The first Book of Maccabees is the most valuable 
of the collection, historically. 

2. The Writings of Josephus. — Josephus was a Jewish 
historian, born A. D. 37. He survived the siege and destruc- 
tion of Jerusalem by Titus, and wrote two important works : 
" The Antiquity of the Jews," a complete history from crea- 
tion, and "The Jewish Wars," which gives an account of his 
own people from B. C. 170 to his own time. 

11. POLITICAL PERIODS. 

The political history comprises six periods, viz.: (i) The 
Persian; (2) the Macedonian; (3) the Egyptian; (4) the 
Syrian; (5) the Maccabean, or Independent; (6) the Roman. 

1. The Persian Period (B. C. 538-332).— This period begins 
with the capture of Babylon by Cyrus the Great, and the 
consequent transfer of Jewish allegiance to the Persian 
power. The larger portion of the period, therefore, is covered 
by the Post-exile period of Old Testament History. Under 
the Persians the Jews were usually governed by their own 
High Priest, subject to the Syrian Satrap, or Governor. In 
the main, the Persian rule was mild. Troubles continued 
with the Samaritans. These, it will be remembered, were 
remnants of the Ten Tribes, amalgamated with imported 
Assyrians. They were frequently reinforced by renegade 
Jews, one of whom, a priest named Manasseh, built a tem- 
ple on Mt. Gerizim about B. C. 400 {cf. Jno. iv. 20). The 
Samaritans possessed the Pentateuch, believed in God, 
offered sacrifices, and looked for a Messiah. Their religion 
may be described as a degenerated Judaism. 

2. Macedonian Period (B. C. 332-323). — In the spring of 
334, Alexander crossed into Asia on his unequalled series of 
conquests. Defeating Darius at Granicus and Issus, and cap- 
turing Tyre after an obstinate resistance of seven months, he 
swept down through Palestine on his way to Egypt. Jose- 
phus tells an interesting story how Jaddua, the High Priest, 



94 Ay OUTLINE OF BIBLE HIST OR V. 

at the head of a procession, met Alexander outside the city 
of Jerusalem ; how Alexander was moved to unwonted rev- 
erence at the sight ; how he spared the city from the usual 
plunder ; how he entered the temple, and offered worship to 
the God of the Jews ; and how he accounted to his ofl&cers for 
his unusual conduct by a dream in Macedonia, in which he 
had seen the High Priest, who there told him he should 
conquer the Persians.* At any rate, Alexander and his suc- 
cessors seem to have been impressed with the worth of Jews 
as colonists ; for they extended such privileges to Jewish set- 
tlers on the Nile, that Alexandria became the center of a large 
Jewish population, and a celebrated seat of Jewish learning. 

3. Egyptian Period (B. C. 323-204). — Alexander died at 
Babylon B. C. 323. After twenty years of confused struggle 
among his generals over the partition of his empire, some 
measure of order emerged. Seleucus obtained the larger 
part of the Asiatic provinces. Passing by the ancient cap- 
itals of the east, such as Susa, Babylon and Damascus, he 
founded on the Orontes, near the Mediterranean, the splendid 
city of Antioch Thence, for two and a half centuries the 
Seleucidae (descendants of Seleucus) ruled the rich Syrian 
kingdom, and there for centuries longer centered the w^ealth 
and culture of Asia. 

Ptolemy won Egypt, \vith its new capital, Alexandria, 
which rapidly became the commercial and literary metrop- 
olis of all the east. These two kingdoms and capitals were 
long rivals. Ptolemy early wrested Palestine from Seleucus. 
The century under the Ptolemies was, in the main, a period 
of prosperity for the Jews. The most noteworthy event was 
the translation of the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek, by the 
order of Ptolemy Philadelphus, for the great Alexandrian 
library. The work is known as the Septuagint, from the 
traditional number of translators. 

4. The Syrian Period (B. C. 204-167).— Palestine again be- 
came a bone of contention between the rival powers. The 



*Josephus, "Antiquities," Book XI., chap. viii. 



INTER VAL, 95 



Seleucidae finally recovered the land from the Ptolemies. 
The period of Syrian rule was the darkest yet most glorious 
in the whole four hundred j-ears. The Seleucidae were dis- 
solute tyrants. Antiochus Epiphanes (B. C. 175-164) was 
the most notorious of them all. Returning on one occasion 
from defeat in Egj'pt, he vented his vengeance on Jerusalem. 
He massacred forty thousand of its population, stripped the 
temple of its treasures, and outraged the religious sense of 
the Jews by sacrificing a sow on the altar, and sprinkling 
the interior of the temple with the liquor in which a portion 
of the unclean beast had been boiled. He sought by every 
means to stamp out the Hebrew religion and spirit, and 
transform the nation into Greeks. He shut up the temple, 
and, on pain of death, prohibited the Jewish religion. Multi- 
tudes heroically sacrificed their lives rather than their faith. 
The leaders in this heroic resistance were a family of priest- 
patriots known as the Maccabees. 

5. The Maccabean Period (B. C. 167-63). — A war of inde- 
pendence was begun by an aged priest named Mattathias, 
and carried on for thirty years by his sons. Judas, the 
Jewish Wallace, won five battles in a year against ten times 
his own number, and the title of " Maccabee " (Hammer), 
which has adhered to the family-. Judas was so far success- 
ful that he reopened, cleansed and rededicated the temple, in 
honor of which the Feast of Dedication continued to be kept 
(Jno. X. 27). Judas finally fell in battle; but a troubled 
independence was at last won by his brother Simon, and 
recognized by the Syrians. John Hyrcanus, Simon's son, 
succeeded him with the title of king. Thus was founded 
the Asmonean kingdom, .so named from Asmoneus, an 
ancestor of the Maccabees. 

6. The Roman Period (B. C. 63-A. D. 70, from the capture 
of Jerusalem by Pompey to its destruction by Titus). — The 
closing years of the Maccabean period w^ere years of wretched 
civil strife. Diiferent members of the Asmonean family 
were rivals for the throne; and plots and counterplots, 
mutual murders and appeals to the rising power of Rome 



96 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY, 

Stained the annals. In B. C. 63, Pompey the Great, at the 
conclusion of the third Mithridatic war, led his victorious 
legions into Syria, put an end to the kingdom of the Seleu- 
cidse, and, by the capture of Jerusalem, extinguished the 
last sparks of independent political life for the Jews. For a 
time the Asmoneans were continued as local rulers, subject, 
under the Roman Governor of Syria, to the despotic power 
that issued from the Tiber. 

The Herodlan Family. — But now a new personal force 
comes upon the scene. For a century the Herodian family 
played the leading part in Jewish history ; a momentous 
century, which witnessed the birth and work of Jesus Christ, 
and the founding of the Church. Herod the Great (B. C. 
37-4) was of Idumean (Edomite) descent. In B. C. 47 his 
father, Antipater, was made Governor of Judea. At tHe 
same time, Herod was made Governor of Galilee. B. C. 40 
he was appointed king of Judea by the Roman Senate, but 
had to conquer his kingdom, w;hich he accomplished B. C. 37. 
He married Mariamne, granddaughter of the Jewish priest- 
king, Hyrcanus, thus uniting his own claims to the throne 
with thovse of the Asmonean line. Herod possessed a genius 
for government rarely equalled ; but his vices were even great- 
er. He was unscrupulous as to means, grossly licentious, and 
insanely suspicious ; and victim after victim fell before his 
fatal jealous}^; his .mother-in-law, brother-in-law, two sons 
and his own beautiful Mariamne. He incurred the hatred of 
the Jews by introducing races and other Greek customs into 
Jerusalem. To atone for this in their eyes, he rebuilt the 
temple, making it far larger than Solomon's, and vastly 
richer than Zerubbabel's. He also rebuilt the old city of 
Samaria, naming it Sebaste, and founded the new city of 
Csesarea, making it the political capital of Palestine. 
Despite the fact that " his throne was bathed in the blood 
of his relations," he gave to the kingdom the greatest 
external splendor it ever knew, save in the reigns of David 
and Solomon. Yet all this material splendor could not blind 
the Jews, proud of their lineage and their glorious past, to 



INTER VAL. 97 



the fact that they were a subject race. Their chains might 
be gilded ; they were chains still. Herod himself was of 
alien race, and he ruled as the representative of another 
alien race. The tabernacle of David was, indeed, fallen, and 
the elect spirits of the nation, the " Israel within Israel," 
looked and longed for him who should raise it up again and 
build it as in days of old (Amos. ix. 12). 

III. CHANGES IN LIFE AND CUSTOMS. 

1. Occupation. — The Hebrews were originally farmers and 
herdsmen. In the days of Solomon, and under some of the 
later kings, they engaged to some extent in foreign com- 
merce. But the wide dispersion from the captivity onward 
made them a nation of traders, a characteristic they have 
never lost. 

2. Language— Great changes came over the language, also, 
from the time of the captivity. Chaldean, Syrian and Per- 
sian forms crept in, and, in the course of centuries, the result 
was similar to that which took place in Italy after the inva- 
sion of the barbarians. Modern Italian is not classic Latin, 
though rooted in it. Similarly, the classic Hebrew became 
a dead language, and Aramaic became the common speech 
in Palestine at the opening of the Christian era. 

3. Religion.— Changes in religion may be thus summar- 
ized : 

a. Idolatry Forever Disappears.— Frevions to the cap- 
tivity we have noticed the constant tendency to imitate the 
heathen worship about them. This gave way at last to an 
intense abhorrence of everything that savored of heath- 
enism. 

d. Rise of the S}'?iagog2ie.— There is no trace of the syna- 
gogue in the Old Testament. It is possible it arose during 
the captivity in the absence of temple services. Ten men 
were enough to constitute a synagogue. There were hun- 
dreds of them in Jerusalem, and many in the great cities of 
the empire. The services consisted of daily prayers at the 



98 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

hours of daily sacrifice, Sabbath readings, and expositions 
of the Scriptures, closing with a benediction. 

c. Rise of Jewish Sects. — These were (i) Pharisees who 
held to an oral law of Moses, handed down by tradition, equal 
in authority to the written law. They held tenaciously to 
the doctrine of the resurrection and a future life. They 
were rigid separatists, opposed to the introduction of Gentile 
customs. They really constituted the better portion of the 
nation, which preserved the national identity amid the dis- 
integrating forces at work. (2) The Sadducees. These op- 
posed the Pharisees on all the above points, denying the 
authority of an oral law, denying the resurrection and a 
future life, and favoring a free intercourse with the nations 
about them, with their customs and ideas. They were the 
politicians who advocated keeping in favor with the Romans. 
The High Priest was usually of the Sadducean party. (3) 
The Essenes were a small sect of ascetics who retired from 
society, did not marry, and spent their time in contempla- 
tion. They were Jewish hermits. 

Such, in brief, was the land, such the state of the nation, 
on the eve of the world's greatest era. The carnal side of the 
Abrahamic covenant has reached and long passed its largest 
development. The spiritual side, overshadowed so long, 
but more and more emphasized by the great prophets as the 
centuries go by, is now to find an ample fulfillment. The 
thorny stalk of Judaism is ripe and ready to bloom into the 
world-wide spiritual religion of Jesus the Christ. 



PART SECOND. 

NEW TESTANIKNX HISTORY. 



INTRODUCTION. 

1. The Land and the People. — The story we are now to 
trace will keep us for a time on ground grown familiar and 
sacred through fifteen centuries of association with the 
Patriarchs, Kings and Prophets of the Old Covenant. The 
natural scenery is the same as when Abraham first pitched 
his tent at Shechem ; all else is changed. Ancient peoples 
and cities have disappeared or fallen into the background ; 
new peoples and cities have come to the front. Canaan has 
become Palestine, a name derived from the Philistines. The 
names of the chosen people have varied with the varying 
phases of their national life. The earliest name, Hebrew, 
has clung to them to the present. The term Israel, used 
from Jacob's time onward, was appropriated to the Northern 
Kingdom after the division under Rehoboam ; while the 
term Jew, from Judah, was the common national name 
throughout the later Old Testament and the New Testament 
period. The nation is no longer isolated as in early days. 
Life has grown wonderfully complex. Many new "currents 
have flowed into it. A Roman governor holds his court at 
the new capital at Caesarea, or in the old sacred city of Jeru- 
salem. Roman soldiers and Roman tax collectors are 
omnipresent. The ancient Hebrew is the sacred language 

of the schools, and must be learned as a modern Italian boy 

99 



100 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

learns Latin. Aramaic is the common language of the 
natives ; while Greek is the language of literature, and I^atin 
of official circles. 

2. The Five Divisions of Palestine.— Palestine in New 
Testament times was divided into five districts, three west 
and two east of the Jordan. Those on the west were, — 

a. Galilee, on the north, with a population provincial, 
uncultured, mainly Jewish, yet with a large Gentile element. 
Capernaum was the chief city, though the region around the 
Sea of Galilee abounded in cities and villages. 

b. Judea, on the south, more purely Jewish, cultured and 
aristocratic. It contained Bethlehem, unimportant save as 
the birthplace of David and of Jesus ; Caesarea, the Roman 
capital, built by Herod the Great, and Jerusalem, the 
national and religious heart and hearthstone of the widely 
scattered race. 

c. Samaria, in the center, with a mongrel race and relig- 
ion, intensely hated by, and hating, their Jewish neighbors. 
Sychar, the ancient Shechem, the site of the ancient Samari- 
tan temple, was the place of greatest interest. 

The districts on the east of Jordan were, — 

d. Perea, on the south, with a country population mainly 
Jewish. 

e. The northern district east of the Jordan had no proper 
name. It is sometimes called Decapolis (the district of the 
ten cities); but Decapolis included only the southern por- 
tion. It corresponds nearly to the ancient kingdom of 
Bashan, and may therefore be called the Bashan District. 
It constituted the Tetrarchy of Philip. The population w^as 
largely Gentile in race, and heathen in religion. Jesus' 
ministry extended into all five districts, but interest centers 
chiefly in Judea and Galilee. 

3. Rulers of Palestine. — a. Roman Emperors. — Palestine 
was governed by local rulers subject to the emperors of 
'Rome. The emperors, during the time of Christ, were 
Octavius (Augustus) Caesar (B. C. 31 — A. D. 14) and Tiber- 
jus (A, D. 14-37). The later emperors of importance in 



2MTR on lie TlO/\r, 101 



New Testament History were Claudius (A. D. 41-54), Ner) 
(A. D. 54-68) and Vespasian (A. D. 69-79). 

d. Local Rulers. — The local politics may be thus summed 
up: (i) Kingdom of Herod the Great. Herod the Great 
ruled as a hereditary, though subject, king over all the five 
districts named above until his death, B. C. 4."'^ (2) The 
Tetrarchy (Government of Four), B. C. 4 — A. D. 41. Herod's 
kingdom was parcelled out among three of his sons. Ar- 
chelaus (Matt. ii. 22) received Judea and Samaria. In A. D. 
6 he incurred the disfavor of the emperor, and his kingdom 
was placed under a series of imperial governors, of whom 
Pontius Pilate was the sixth. Antipas (Herod the Tetrarch, 
Matt. xiv. 3) inherited Galilee and Perea. Philip (I^uke iii. 
i) became Tetrarch of the Bashan district. A fourth Tet- 
rarchy is mentioned in I^uke iii. i. I^ysanias was not one of 
the Herodian family, and Abilene lay outside Herod the 
Great's dominions. (3) Kingdom of Herod Agrippa I., A. D. 
41-44. Herod Agrippa (Acts xii. 1-23) was a grandson of 
Herod the Great. Through the favor of the Emperor Cali- 
gula, all of Palestine was united under his rule, with Abilene 
beside ; so that he ruled a larger territory than any other 
Jewish king after Solomon. (4) King Agrippa II., A. D. 
44-70. At the death of Herod Agrippa, a new division was 
made. His son, Herod Agrippa II. (Actsxxvi. 2), was given 
the two old Tetrarchies of Philip and Lysanias. He ruled 
over them till the destruction of Jerusalem and the Jewish 
state, A. D. 70. It was only by courtesy that he is called 
" King Agrippa." The other provinces of Palestine were 
placed again under governors, as in the time of Pontius 
Pilate. 



*Our method of reckoning time from the birth of Christ came into 
use in the fourth century. The monk, Dionysius Kxiguus. who calcu- 
lated the date, made a mistake of four years. The death of Herod 
probably occurred within a year of the birth of Christ. Our present 
year should probably be 1898 instead of 1894. 



BOOK I. 

THE GOSPEL HISTORY; OR, THE PERSONAL 

MISSION AND WORK OF JESUS 

CHRIST, B. C. 5 — A. D. 30. 



INTRODUCTION. 

1. Christ the Central Figure In Bible History.— All Bible 
lines converge toward Christ. He was the promised " seed 
of the woman" who was to bruise the serpent's head (Gen. 
iii. 15) ; the covenant " seed" of Abraham who was to bless 
all nations of the earth (Gen. xii. 1-3). No doubt the long 
centuries of Patriarchal and Jewish sacrifices, like the cor- 
responding heathen services, had a profound significance in 
themselves. It was the universal sense of sin voicing itself 
in sacrifice of life, the piteous cry of human hearts for peace 
and pardon. But the chief significance of the Hebrew priest- 
hood and sacrifices lay in their typical import. Down the 
weary pathway of the centuries the}^ point increasingly to 
the self-sacrifice of divinity for the redemption of humanity : 
to Him who is "the Lamb of God that taketh away the sin 
of the world." Thus innumerable lines of types and proph- 
ecies converge on the head of Christ. In a similar way the 
lines of the New Covenant run back to Christ. We preach 
Christ, believe in Christ, confess Christ, are baptized into 
Christ, keep the Supper in memory of the death of Christ 

upon the day that commemorates the resurrection of Christ. 

102 



THE GOSPEL HISTORY. 103 

Redemption through Christ is the scarlet thread that binds 
all Books of the Bible into one. 

2. Christ the Key to the World's History.— Jesus' birth 
is a pivotal event. The providential preparations for his 
coming were the choice and preservation of the Hebrevv 
race; the conquests of Alexander and the spread of the 
Greek language ; the rise of the Roman empire, with its 
system of laws, and roads and civilization ; the wide disper- 
sion of the Jews with their sacred Scriptures; the leavening 
influence of Greek philosophy ; the decay of faith in the 
heathen gods, and the widespread expectation of a great 
ruler to arise out of the east. And it surely was no accident 
that the Roman empire continued until she had received 
Christianity .so fully into her veins that she transmitted it to 
the barbarians who deluged her lands with ruin, but who 
had in their loins the mighty nations who were to shape the 
world's destiny. 

3. Sources of History. — These are the four little memoirs, 
commonly called gospels, of Matthew, Mark, lyuke and John. 

a. Matthew (Levi) left his office of publican, or tax col- 
lector, to become Jesus' disciple (Matt. ix. 9 ; Mark ii. 14). 
He was later chosen one of the twelve apostles (Matt. x. 3). 
He wrote especially for Jews, (i) He quotes Old Testament 
prophecy sixty-five times. See, in a single chapter. Matt. ii. 
5. 6, 15, 17, 23. (2) His favorite name for Jerusalem is the 
"Holy City" (iv. 5; xxiv. 15; xxvii. 53). Eight times he 
calls Jesus the " son of David " (i. 20; ix. 27; xii. 23), etc. 

b. Mark was not a personal disciple of Jesus, but a con- 
vert of Peter (I. Peter v. 13), and a companion of Paul (Acts 
xiii. 5; cf. Acts xii. 25, II. Tim. iv. 11). He evidently wrote 
for non-Jewish writers, as he makes few quotations from the 
Old Testament, and explains his few allusions to Jewish 
customs (ii. 18; xiii. 3; xiv. 12). 

c. Luke was not a personal disciple of Jesus (i. 1-4). He 
was a physician (Col. iv. 14), and first appears as a traveling 
companion of Paul (Acts xvi. 10 and other " we" passages 
in Acts). 



104 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 



d. John was one of tlie first five disciples (i. 35-51). He 
became an apostle (Matt. x. 2), and is referred to as the dis- 
ciple "whom Jesus loved" (xiii. 23, xix. 26, xx. 2). He was 
originally a fisherman (Luke v. i-ii). 

Matthew and Luke give an account of Jesus' birth and 
infancy. Mark begins with the ministry of the Baptist, and 
the baptism of Jesas. John, writing long after the others 
were dead, omitted most of what they gave, and added many 
of Jesus' conversations. He omits the birth, baptism, temp- 
tation, sermon on the mount, all the parables, transfigura- 
tion, institution of the Lord's Supper, and the agony in 
Gethsemane. Because of the similarity of their accounts, 
the first three are called the Synoptics. 




(Copyrig7UlB80., 



Th&Americ/m. Sunday School (Man, TkUaddpTda. 

8 



CHAPTER I. 

THE BIRTH AND INFANCY, MATT. I., II ; LUKE I., II. 

1. The Series of Visions. — The gospel history opens with 
a series of visions, four in number. 

a. The Vision of Zachariah. — Zachariah was an aged 
priest of blameless life. While engaged in his duties in 
the temple, the angel Gabriel, who had revealed to Daniel 
(Dan. ix. 21-23) the advent of the Messiah, appeared to him, 
and announced that their prayers should be answered in the 
birth of a son to his wife Elizabeth. As a sign and seal of 
the promise, he was to be dumb until its fulfillment. 

b. Vision of Mary. — Elizabeth had a cousin, Mary, of the 
lineage of David. She was unmarried, though betrothed 
to a man named Joseph. To her the same angel was sent 
with the glad message that she, too, should bear a son : that, 
as the progeny of the Holy Spirit, he should be called the 
Son of God, and be the Saviour of men. Overwhelmed with 
joy, she journeyed from her home at Nazareth, in Galilee, to 
the hill country of Judea to visit her cousin. 

c. Vision of foseph. — On her return to Nazareth, Mary's 
joy was overcast with sorrow. Among the Jews, betrothal 
was as sacred as marriage ; and Mary's apparent violation of 
the bond exposed her to a disgraceful death. But a third 
vision enlightened Joseph as to the sublime import of 
events, and added to the promised son the prophetic name 
Emmanuel — God with us {cf. Matt. 1. 23; Is. vii. 14). 

2. The Manger Cradle at Bethlehem. — In due time both 
promises were fulfilled. According to divine direction the 
son of Zacharias and Elizabeth was named John. A few 

103 



106 AjV outline of BIBLE HISTORY, 



months later Mary brought forth her first born, and in 
harmony with the vision called him jESUS — Saviour. Here, 
as in so many other ways, human plans unconsciously inter- 
laced with the divine purpose. The Messiah was to be born 
at Bethlehem (Micah v. 2). Mary's home was at distant 
TTazareth. An enrollment decree of Augustus Caesar sent 
Joseph and Mary to their native village of Bethlehem. As 
with the mother of Martin lyUther, the mysteries of travail 
overtook Mary away from home. The inn was crowded, and 
the lowly pair found such shelter as they could in the stable. 
There, while Augustus was busy with the plans of vast 
empire, and Herod was plotting new villianies, and the great 
w^orld were pursuing each one his own way, all unconscious 
of the momentous event, the Divine Man was born. 

3. The Angel Song. — Earth was unconscious of the advent 
of her King; but heaven could not keep silent. Angels 
brought the glad tidings, and sang their song of " Peace on 
earth"; not to kings and courts, not to proud priest or 
pompous Pharisee, but to lowly shepherds who made their 
way to his lowly cradle, and were the first of earth to do 
homage to the world's Redeemer. They were the forerun- 
ners and representatives of the common people who •' heard 
him gladly," and who constituted the bulk of his disciples. 

4. The Group in the Temple. — The circumcision and naming 
occurred, according to Jewish custom, on the eighth day. At 
the end of forty days, Mary appeared at Jerusalem, six miles 
distant, to make the offerings required in such cases (Lev. 
xii.). " The Lord of the temple appeared in the temple of 
the Lord." Their evident poverty {cf. Luke ii. 24; Lev. xii. 
8) was such that they would attract slight notice from scribe 
and priest in that splendid court. But even there, as at 
Bethlehem's hills, were devout souls that were open to the 
divine intuitions and thrilled with joyous recognition of the 
long-expected Messiah. Two such, the aged Simeon and 
Anna, are named. They are representative of the prophetic 
spirit which had ennobled the Hebrew nation, and were the 
first to publicly proclaim Jesus as the Messiah. 



THE BIRTH AND INFANCY. 107 

5. Visit of the Wise Men. — But peasants and prophetic 
spirits of Israel are not the only ones who gather around 
the cradle of the Babe of Bethlehem. Gifted souls at a 
greater distance thrilled with the revelation. The heathen 
world was represented in the circle that paid homage to the 
Christ. " There came wise men from the east to Jerusalem 
saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews ? for we 
have seen his star in the east and are come to worship him." 
Traditions as to their name and nationality, speculations as 
to the nature of the star and the measure of their knowledge 
are useless. But they stand as the representatives of the 
vague longings and hope of a vast outlying heathendom, 
and a prophecj'^ of the time when all heathendom shall join 
in loving adoration of our King. 

6. The Edict of Herod and Flight to Egypt. — Herod was fast 
sinking with excruciating disease. He had every reason for 
unrCvSt, for his throne rested on the victims of his jealous 
hate. Veiled treason had spread throughout his kingdom. 
At such a time, to such a man, the inquiry of the wise men 
was like a dagger thrust. But veiling both terror and mur- 
derous purpose, he ordered the wise men to bring him word 
when they had found the Child. Obeying the divine inti- 
mation, they went another way home. Herod turned sav- 
agely upon the innocents of Bethlehem and vicinity. But 
nothing could avail against that Life till he was ready to 
surrender it in voluntary sacrifice for sin. " He thrust his 
sword into the nest but the bird was flown." Joseph, ever 
watchful of the divine leadings, had escaped to Egypt beyond 
Herod's jurisdiction, but still within the circle of a large 
Jewish population. Herod died soon after, but fearing 
Archelaus, who had succeeded both to the throne and the 
policy of his father in Judea, Joseph returned to his home 
in distant Nazareth. 



CHAPTER II. 

PERIOD OF PREPARATION, MATT. III. —IV. 1 1 ; MARK I. 
I-I3; LUKE II. 40— IV. 13; JNO. I. 19-28. 

I. THE SILENT YEARS AT NAZARETH. 

For thirty years Jesus' home was at Nazareth. The 
little country village was despised by the more cultured Jews 
of Judea and Jerusalem ; and when Jesus emerged from 
obscurity, both he and his disciples were contemptuously 
called Nazarenes. 

1. Self- Restraint of the Gospels. — In marked contrast with 
the wealth of incident gathering round his cradle, his min- 
istry and his cross, is the silence of these thirty years. Not 
so do uninspired men write biography. They love to dwell 
upon the incidents of boyhood, the signs and promise of 
budding genius. In this spirit did the authors of apocryphal 
gospels write of Jesus' early years. They crowd their pages 
with portents and precocious miracles, meant to honor, but 
really dishonoring, him. The self-restraint of our gospels is 
proof, both of the reality of their story and the inspiration 
of the authors. 

2. Educational Influences. — Jesus did not grow up either 
in idleness or ignorance. He was a carpenter, and the 
reputed son of a carpenter (Matt. xiii. 55 ; Mark vi. 3). 
Every Jewish lad learned a trade. The peasantry were able 
to read and write. The reference to his illiteracy (Jno. vii. 
15) means only that he was not educated in the rabbinical 
schools ; he was not college-bred, as we would say. It is not 
unlikely he was familiar with three languages : Aramaic, his 

108 



PERIOD OF PREPARA TION. 109 

mother tongue ; Hebrew, the original language of the Script- 
ures, and Greek, the language of literature. Though he was 
too poor to own a complete copy of the Scriptures, the vil- 
lage synagogue would give him access to them ; and choice 
fragments of them may have been owned even in the car- 
penter's home. 

3. His Visit to Jerusalem. — One important means of educa- 
tion is mentioned (I^uke ii. 46-51). His parents went yearly 
to the Passover at Jerusalem. The journey would take them 
for eighty miles through a country rich in historical associa- 
tions. Jerusalem itself was loved as no other capital ever 
was by its people. Pilgrims from scores of lands, speaking 
as many tongues, thronged its streets and swarmed in its 
temple. To a bright, earnest boy, such an annual trip must 
have been an education in itself. Once only during the 
thirty years is the veil of obscurity lifted. The age of twelve 
was a turning point for a Jewish lad. At twelve he began 
to learn a trade ; was called "grown up"; could no longer be 
sold by his father; began to wear phylacteries, and was 
called a '* son of the law." At this critical age Jesus seems 
to have made his first journey to Jerusalem. The company 
had made a day's journey homeward when he was missed. 
Returning, his parents searched anxiously a whole day in 
Jerusalem. They found him at last, not with the boys of the 
street ; not seeing the sights, but in the temple, among the 
doctors of the law, hearing them and asking them questions, 
" How is it that ye sought me ? Wist ye not that I must be 
about my Father's business ? " Such are his first recorded 
words, and they are the keynote of his whole life. Though 
he returned with them to Nazareth, and continued subject to 
them, yet, doubtless, the periodical visits to Jerusalem had 
an important influence in the formation of his character and 
the maturing of his plans. 

We can not help asking. When and how did Jesus become 
conscious of his divine nature and personality ? Did it flash 
on him suddenly, or dawn gradually like conscious person- 
ality in the common child ? Did it arise from quiet hom§ 



no AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY, 

talks about the wonders of his birth, or spring up within 
him ? Such questions carry us beyond our depth and beyond 
what is revealed. It seems clear, however, that at twelve 
he was fully conscious of his divine parentage. 

4. Lessons of the Silent Years. — In a public way Jesus 
was about his Father's business only three years ; yet he was 
as trul}^ doing God's work in the silent years as when teach- 
ing the multitudes or dying for our sins. What Jesus did 
was measured by what he was ; and he became what he was 
through thirty years of growth " in wisdom and stature and 
in favor with God and men." The world's sorest need is 
character ; and no years of preparation are wasted that pro- 
duce such manhood as came forth from the obscurity of 
Nazareth. 

II. THE MINISTRY OF THE BAPTIST. 

1. Revival of Prophecy. — Four centuries have passed since 
the last voice of public prophecy. The last Hebrew prophet 
(Mai. iv. 5, 6), as well as Isaiah (xl. 3), had foretold a fore- 
runner of the Messiah. At the annunciation, and again at 
his birth, John had been pointed out as that forerunner. 
After the detailed account of his birth and circumcision, a 
single verse (Luke i. 80) contains all that is recorded of htm 
for thirty years. He was to be a Nazirite from birth (Luke 
i. 15; </! Num. vi. 1-5); and when he emerged from the 
desert it was in the coarse garb of the old Hebrew prophets. 
His long seclusion w^as doubtless spent in self-discipline and 
profound meditation upon the sins of the time, and the pro- 
phetic visions of the Messiah and his kingdom. He did not 
seek the cities, but preached in the wild, thinly settled region 
along the Jordan. 

2. Power of His IVIinlstry. — His ministry of two years 
accomplished more than most ministries of fifty. He " did 
no miracle " (Jno. x. 41), but soon had the nation at his feet. 
Not rude rural peoples alone, but cultured scribes and Phari- 
sees from the capital thronged to hear this second Elijah. 



PERIOD OF PREPARATION. Ill 

Men felt that here, at last, was a man with a message to their 
souls. He did not, like the teachers of the day, busy him- 
self with questions of mint, anise and cumin, the width of 
phylacteries or the length of a Sabbath day's journey. It 
was part of his mission to call the nation back from hollow- 
ness to reality. He rebuked the violence of soldiers, the 
extortion of publicans, the hypocrisy of Pharisees, the self- 
ishness of all (IvUke iii. 10-14). 

3. The Kingdom at Hand. — John's ministry did not term- 
inate in itself. It was preparatory. The burden of it was, 
" Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." He dis- 
claimed being the Christ, but owned himself the preparatory 
Voice (Jno. i. 19-23). To emphasize his message he bap- 
tized with the baptism '* of repentance " and " for remis- 
sion"; at the same time calling men to believe on " him who 
was to come," and who was to baptize with the Holy Spirit 
(Mark i. 7, 8; cf. Acts xix. 4). To arouse the slumbering 
nation, quicken its conscience, kindle into flame the Messi- 
anic expectation, first center it upon himself, and then trans- 
fer it to Jesus — such was the aim and result of his brief 
ministry. 

4. The Baptism of Jesus. — The climax came with the 
baptism of Jesus. Along with the sinful throng there 
came one day the sinless Son of Mary, We do not know 
that they had ever met. Certain it is that John did not yet 
know him as the Messiah (Jno. i. 31-34). But the lion-like 
prophet who could face Pharisee and king, bowed with deep 
humility befoie the matchless manhood of Jesus ; " I have 
need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to mey Jesus'' 
baptism was, indeed, unlike ours ; it was neither a baptism 
" of repentance" nor "for remission." Yet it was clothed 
with profound significance, both to John and Jesus. To 
John the parted heavens, the descending Spirit, the divine 
voice, " This is my Son," left no doubt that this was the 
Messiah before whom he should decrease. To Jesus, as to 
us, baptism marked a crisis in life : the Spirit was bestowed; 
his divine sonship was owned. " Holy and pure before 



112 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

sinking under the waters, he must have arisen from them 
with the light of a higher glory in his countenance. His 
past life was closed ; a new era had opened. It was the true 
moment of his entrance on a new life. Past years had been 
buried in the waters of the Jordan. He entered them as 
Jesus, the Son of man; he rose from them the Christ of God.'' * 
4. The Temptation. — Jesus is now on the threshold of 
his great ministry. Through thirty years his human nature 
has matured into a fit instrument of the divine. His pk.ns 
were equally matured. Will he have the courage to pur ;ue 
them steadily to the end ? That was the question which the 
temptation was to answer. The key to it is to be found in 
the Jewish expectation of a wonder-working, political Mes- 
siah. Did the tempter come in outward form ; or did he 
attack Jesus, as he so often and so successfully attacks us, by 
inward and sinful suggestion ? We may never know. We 
know the temptation came in three forms : 

a. Through Bodily Appetite. — "Command these stones 
that they be made bread" ; a temptation to (i) distrust his 
Father's care, (2) use his miracle-working power for self. 
But he who came " not to be ministered unto but to min- 
ister," would not begin by prostituting his supernatural gifts 
to selfish ends. 

b. Through His Trust in God. — " Cast thyself down " 
from some temple tower. But he who would not distrust 
God's care would not presume on that care to astonish the 
multitude. 

c. Thrj)ugh His Plans for Do7ninion.—^^^\x^ is the Mes- 
siah. He is to reign over the whole earth. " Fall down and 
worship me." Do not wait the slow conquest by spiritual 
means. Employ carnal weapons. Ally yourself with the 
earthly hopes of your people. What thrones can you not 
win? It was the temptation to which Mohamet yielded 
when he drew the sword, and to which the church has 
yielded whenever she has resorted to force. 



«-Geikie, " lyife of Christ," Vol. I., p. 413. 



PERIOD OF PKEPARAT/OiV. 113 

Jesus triumplied, and the tempter " departed from him 
for a season," only to return in the persons of jealous 
scribes, the plots of Judas and the Sanhedrin, and in the 
hate that raged round the cross. But no assaults could 
avail against the steadfast soul of him who was " tempted in 
all points like as we are, yet without sin " (Heb. iv. 15). 



CHAPTER III. 

THE PERIOD OF OBSCURITY. FROM THE RETURN TO 

JORDAN TO THE RETURN TO GALILEE, 

JNO. I. 29 — IV. 54. 

Characteristics of the Period. — This period covers nine or 
ten months — from late winter to early winter. The records 
of it are few and fragmentary. For this reason, and from the 
further fact that Jesus came slowly into public notice, it is 
called the Period of Obscurity. It was passed mostly in 
Judea, and we are indebted to John for the little we know of 
it. It was a year of teaching rather than of much miracle 
working, and of private and personal teaching rather than 
public discourse. John's ministry continued, though it 
began to wane before the growing power of Jesus' work 
(Jno. iv. 1-3). The early days were passed in Galilee ; the 
larger portion of the period in Judea. 

I. THE EARLY GALILEAN MINISTRY. 

1. The First Disciples. — After the temptation Jesus re- 
turned to the Jordan to enter upon his epoch-making min- 
istry. He was there pointed out by the Baptist as the Lamb 
of God. Five young men, disciples of John, partly by John's 
testimony, more powerfully, no doubt; by Jesus' own teach- 
ing and personality, were drawn into his discipleship. 
John's disciples did not go over in a body to Jesus ; yet 
throughout this period Jesus continued to increase and 
John to decrease; and the great-souled forerunner would 
have it so (Jno. iii. 25-30). The names of these first 

X14 



PERIOD OF OBSCURITY. 115 

five disciples should not be forgotten. They are John, 
Andrew, Peter, Philip and Nathanael. 

2. The First Miracle. — Jesus immediately left the lower 
Jordan with his newlj' found disciples for a short tour in his 
awn province of Galilee. The occasion was a wedding at 
Cana near Nazareth. Here he met his mother, and per- 
formed the first of those wonderful works we call miracles. 
A lavish hospitality is a cardinal oriental virtue; and Jesus 
averted an impending shadow from the festivities by turn- 
ing water to wine. 

" The conscious water saw its Lord and blushed." 

A miracle is a miracle. It is useless to philosophize 
about it. We understand its nature as little as we do the 
ordinary processes of nature. Jesus was himself the greatest 
of all miracles — the moral miracle of the ages. Our super- 
natural was his natural. As God is the key to creation, so 
Jesus himself is the key to his works. 

3. Conclusion of the Galilean Ministry. — In company with 
his mother and disciples, Jesas paid a visit to Capernaum, 
which he afterward made the center of his Galilean ministry. 
From there he went to the national capital, Jerusalem. So 
closed the early Galilean ministry. Brief as the record is, it 
furnishes two interesting contrasts with the ministry of 
John: (i) Jesus was to be a worker of miracles; (2) he 
mingled with the common life of the common people. John 
was a recluse, shunning the abodes of men, preaching in the 
desert. He who came to redeem humanity mingled freely 
with all classes, sharing the hospitality of the rich, entering 
the homes of the poor, discoursing in synagogue and in 
private house, in lonely de.sert and by the busy seashore, in 
country village, bustling market town, and in the proud 
capital itself 

II. THF EARLY TUDEAX MIN'ISTRY. 

1. Introductory. — The ministry of Jesus in Galilee had 
apparently been of a private character, and was meant 



116 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY, 

mainly to confirm the faith of his disciples (Jno. ii. ii). He 
now enters upon the more public phase of his ministry in 
the national capital itself. Thus Judea and Jerusalem and 
the rulers of the nation were given the first opportunity to 
accept him as the Messiah. Not till they had rejected him 
did he turn to the evangelization of Galilee. 

2. The Cleansing of the Tem-^le. — Zeal for a spiritual wor- 
ship and for purity of life had characterized the older proph- 
ets. The young Prophet begins his work at Jerusalem in 
the same spirit. Thousands of animals for offerings had 
turned the temple court into a cattle pen ; while brokers 
bargained with their customers in the corridors of the temple 
itself. With that authority, which always clothes intense 
moral convictions, Jesus drove the herds and traders from 
the temple.* His brave act awoke no thrill of sympathy 
from the sordid rulers. It roused their hostility, rather. 
Rejected in the capital, he retired to the country districts of 
Judea. 

3. The Conversation with Nicodemus. — During his stay in 
the city Jesus had attested his Messiahship by working 
some miracles (Jno. ii. 23; iii. 2; iv. 45). One, at least, of 
the rulers, a Pharisee named Nicodemus, did not share the 
hostility of his class. To his night interview with the 
young Teacher we owe one of the profoundest discourses on 
the spiritual nature of his kingdom that ever fell from Jesus' 
lips.f 

4. The Country Ministry: John's Last Testimony. — Driven 
from the city Jesus retired, as we have seen, to the countr3'' 
(Jno. iii. 22). No incidents are preserved; but w^e may infer 
from Jno iv. 35 that Jesus remained in Judea eight months. 



*This cleansing of the temple at the first Passover of Jesus' min- 
istry is not to be confounded with a later one at the last Passover {cf. 
Matt. xxi. 12). 

fit is common to say that Nicodemus came by night for fear of the 
Jews. It is possible but not probable. The little we know of him is 
more favorable {cf. Jno. vii. 50 ; xix. 39), It is more likely that he came 
by night to secure an uninterrupted interview. 



PERIOD OP OBSCURITY. 117 

That it was a fruitful and growing ministry is shown from 
the jealousy of John's disciples (Jno. iii. 26). Battles with- 
out number have been lost through the jealousies of gen- 
erals. John was cast in a different mold; and the natural 
jealousy of his disciples furnishes the occasion, both of a 
refreshing contrast on his part and of his last noble tribute 
to the Messiah, before whom he himself must decrease. 

5. Close of th2 Early Judean JVIinJstry. — John had been 
rejected by the Pharisees (Luke vii. 30). They were even 
more hostile to the larger success and higher spirituality of 
Jesus. This hostility of the Pharisees, possibly also the 
jealousy of John's disciples, above all, the imprisonment of 
John, led Jesus to shift the scene of his labors from Judea to 
Galilee {cf. Jno. iv. 1-3; Matt. iv. 1-12). 

6. The Woman of Samaria. — Samaria, with its despised 
race, lay between Judea and Galilee. The Jews generally 
avoided it by passing to the east of the Jordan. But Jesus 
was already far to the north in Judea; moreover, national 
prejudice could have no place in his bosom. John has pre- 
served the conversation v/ith the Samaritan woman. The 
wondrous light of his life and words and works have already 
carried conviction to John and Andrew and Peter and multi- 
tudes more ; but it is beautifully significant that the earliest 
distinct avowal of his Messiahship recorded was to a name- 
less woman of an alien race. 



CHAPTER IV. 

THE GREAT GALILEAN MINLSTRY. FROM THE RETURN TO 
GALILEE TO THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES. 

Introductory. — a. Time and Place. — This period embraces 
about one year and nine months — more than one-half of 
Jesus' ministry. In the early months he made a single visit 
to Jerusalem. The last six months were marked by a series 
of withdrawals into provinces to the north and east of Gal- 
ilee. With these exceptions, Galilee was the scene, and 
Capernaum the center, of this important portion of Christ's 
ministry. 

b. Characteristics. — It was a period of ( i) Intense activit5^ 
It was crowded with journeys, miracles of love and power, 
public discourses and private teaching, with frequent retire- 
ments late at night, or early in the morning for prayer. (2) 
Popularity with the masses. Crowds from all parts and 
classes hung on his words, witnessed, or experienced in their 
own persons, his divine power, and so blocked his way in cities 
that he often resorted to the open country. (3) Increasing 
hostility of the scribes and Pharisees, and, at last, of Herod 
Antipas. (4) In the closing months, loss of popularity with 
the masses, and consequent withdrawals from Galilee. 

I. FIRST OR PREPARATORY STAGE— TO THE SECOND CALL 
OF DISCIPLES. 

1. The Rejection at Nazaretn (Luke iv. 14-30).— There was 
one village in Galilee where, one would think, the boy Jesus 
must have been well known and loved. It was a full vear, 

118 



THE GREAT GALILEAN MINISTRY. 119 

or more, since Jesus had gone forth from Nazareth to his 
baptism. He now returns to offer himself to the faith of 
men there, as he had done at Jerusalem. On the way he 
wrought a second miracle at Cana in the healing of the 
nobleman's son (J no. iv. 46-54), and probably taught as he 
journeyed to his boyhood home. The result at Nazareth was 
much the same as at Jerusalem. This young carpenter, — 
what right had he to teach them ? It is a sad commentary 
on the blindness of men that the very people among whom 
Jksus had lived for thirty years were the first to seek his life. 

2. Capernaum Chosen (Matt. iv. 12-16). — Leaving Naza- 
reth, Jesus came to Capernaum. A busy center of popula- 
tion and trade on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, 
it was well chosen as the center of the great Galilean min- 
istry. For nearly two years Jesus seems never to have been 
absent many weeks at a time. From Capernaum he set 
forth on his tours; to it he returned. Here was his home, 
if he may be said to have a home, throughout this period. 

3. Miraculous Draught of Fishes and Second Call of Dis- 
ciples (Matt. iv. 18-22; Luke v. i-ii). — Shortly after the 
selection of Capernaum, Jesus made a second and more sig- 
nificant call of disciples. It occurred in connection with a 
miraculous draught of fishes that profoundly impressed 
them all. Peter and Andrew, James and John were fisher- 
men. Three of them were among the first five disciples 
(Jno. i. 35-42). This later call differed from the earlier in 
two respects : it attached them more permanently to Jesus, 
and it was a distinct call to the ministry. This gathering 
around him of a more permanent body of disciples, the 
germs of the future apostolate, marks the close of the 
Preparatory Stage. 

II. SECOND STAGE— TO THE APPOINTMENT OF APOSTLES, 
AND THE SERMON ON THE MOUNT. 

1. A Memorable Sabbath at Capernaum (Mark i. 21-34). — 
Jesus returned with his four disciples to Capernaum, and at 



1!>0 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE IIISTORW 

once entered upon an intensely active puMic ministry. 
Going into the synagogue he taught with such power that 
" they were astonished." But what caused greater astonish- 
ment was the healing of one of those unfortunates called 
demoniacs. It was Jesus' first miracle in Capernaum, and 
the first recorded cure of a demoniac. None of his miracles 
ever seemed to awe people more than these victories over 
the mysterious powers of darkness (</ IvUke iv. 36, 37 ; x. 
17). He followed it up with the cure of Peter's mother-in- 
law in her own home, and the cure of multitudes variously 
afflicted brought b}^ helpful hands after the sun was set and 
the Sabbath closed. 

2. A Great Tour of Galilee (Marki. 35-45). — Slipping away 
very early the next morning for private prayer, Jesus was 
followed by his disciples. Pressing on to avoid the crowd, 
he made an extensive tour of Galilee, preaching everywhere 
the good news of the kingdom, and everywhere healing a 
variety of diseases. The whole country was in a fever of 
excitement; people flocked to him from every province of 
Palestine (Matt. iv. 24, 25). The only miracle given in detail 
was the curing of a leper. 

3. Healing of a Paralytic — Beginnings of Opposition (Mark 
ii. 1-12). — For a full year or more Jesus' popularity with the 
masses continued. But mutterings of hostility soon were 
heard from the scribes and Pharisees, those custodians of 
custom. Their criticism arose in connection with the heal- 
ing of a paralytic on the Sabbath. From this time on, spies 
from the authorities at Jerusalem and elsewhere continued 
to dog his steps. 

4. Call and Feast of Matthew (Matt. ix. 9-13; Luke v. 
27-32). — Another cause of ofleUvSe to the upper ranks was 
the class of people who gathered around Jesus. The pub- 
licans, as a class, were greedy and extortionate; and, as tools 
of the Roman government, they were despised by the Jews. 
One of these, Matthew, or Levi, became a disciple of Jesus, 
and made a great feast for his Master, at which many 
publicans and sinners were invited guests. To thecriticism 



THE GREAT GALILEAN MINISTRY. 121 

of the Pharisees we owe the beautiful saying, *'I am not 
come to call the righteous, but sinners, to repentance." 

5. Jarius' Daughter — The Parenthetical Miracle (Mark v. 
22-43). — Jesus had shown his power over disease, nature 
and demons. It remained to demonstrate his power over 
death. During the discourse at, or following, Matthew's 
feast, the ruler of the synagogue at Capernaum came to 
intercede in behalf of his daughter, who lay at the point of 
death. To such a call Jesus never turned a deaf ear. On 
the way occurred the healing of the woman with an issue of 
blood, which has been aptly termed the parenthetical mir- 
acle. Arriving at Jarius' house they find the little girl 
sleeping the sleep of death ; but He who came to redeem 
from sin and the grave gave back the maiden to the arms of 
her parents alive and well. 

6. The Second Passover (Jno. v. 1-47)- — The Synoptists 
mention only one Passover, that at which Jesus was crucified. 
If the " feast" of Jno. v. i is a passover, then John mentions 
four in all. At any rate, at this point in his ministry Jesus 
visits Jerusalem. The only incident recorded is the healing 
of a helpless man at the pool of Bethesda. It was the Sab- 
bath, and the criticism of the Jews called out the extended 
discourse given in the fifth chapter of John. 

7. Further Sabbath Criticism (Matt. xii. 1-14).— On the 
way back to Galilee, Jesus' disciples were criticized for 
plucking a few wheat or barley heads on the Sabbath, and 
rubbing the grain out to eat. Either at Capernaum, or at 
some village on the way, Jesus was criticized for healing 
a withered hand on the Sabbath. In this last case his 
enemies went so far as to lay plans to kill him, a strik- 
ing illustration of the formalism and worthlessness of their 
religion. 

8. The Twelve and the Sermon on the Mount (^latt. v. — vii.). 
— Powerful as Jesus' personal ministry was, it was to be 
very brief. If its influence was to be abiding, provision 
must be made for trained and qualified witnesses of its 
sublime facts. For this purpose, out of the body of his 



122 



A AT OUILLXE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 



disciples Jesus chose twelve for special training and in- 
struction.* 

Then follows what will be for evermore known as The 
Sermon on the Mount. It is the largest single public dis- 
course of Jesus which has come dowm to us. It is a sublime 
summary of the principles of his kingdom, and embodies 
both the fundamental truths of, and striking contrasts to, 
the law delivered on Sinai. It was delivered to the Twelve 
and the wider circle of disciples, but in the presence of a 
vast promiscuous throng gathered from near and far. The 
choice of the Twelve and the Sermon on the Mount marked 
a turning point in the ministry of Jesus. The legal teachers 
of the nation had rejected him ; but this day's transactions 



* There are four lists of the apostles. They are as follows 





MATT. X. 2-4. 


MARK III. 16-19. 


LUKE VI. 14-16. 


ACTS I. 3. 


I. 

2. 

3- 
4- 


Simon Peter 
Andrew 
James 
John 


Simon Peter 
James 
John 
Andrew 


Simon Peter 
Andrew 
James 
John 


Simon Peter 
James 
John 
Andrew 


7- 
8. 


Philip 

Bartholomew 
Thomas 
Matthew 


Philip 

Bartholomew 
Matthew 
Thomas 


Philip 

Bartholomew 
Matthew 
Thomas 


Philip 
Thomas 
Bartholomew 
Matthew 


9- 

lO. 

II. 

12. 


James the son 
of Alpheus 

Lebbcus, 

Thaddeus 

Simon the Ca- 
nansean 

Judas Iscariot 


James the son 

of Alpheus 
Thaddeus 

Simon the Ca- 

nansean 
Judas Iscariot 


James the son 
of Alpheus 

Simon the 
Zealot 

Judas the bro- 
ther of James 

Judas Iscariot 


James the son 
of Alpheus 

Simon the 
Zealot 

Judas the brr»- 
therofjamei- 



Notice : (i) There are three groups. (2) Peter heads each list in the 
first, Philip in the second, and James the son of Alpheus in the third. 
(3) "Zealot" is the Greek for the Aramaic word "Cananaean." (4) 
Judas Iscariot is last in all the lists. (4) Thaddeus is probably the 
same as Judas the brother of James. 



The g r ea t ga lilean ministr k. 123 

r- ■ 

on the mount, the reiterated " 1 say unto you," was public 
notice that a new order of things was at hand. 

III. THIRD STAGE — TO THE ADOPTION OF PARABLE 
TEACHING. 

1. Continued Labors. — Jesus continued his great mission- 
ary work in and around Capernaum. The healing of a Roman 
centurion's servant (Matt. viii. 5-13) afforded him an illus- 
tration of great faith in a Gentile, and a prophetic glimpse 
of the universality of his kingdom. A second time he raised 
the dead, restoring the son of the widow of Nain (lyuke vii. 
11-17). One of the most touching incidents of Jesus' whole 
ministry belongs to this period. At a Pharisee's table a 
penitent woman washed Jesus' feet with her tears, and 
anointed them with costly ointment (Luke vii. 36-50). The 
criticism of the host called forth from his guest the beautiful 
lesson of the two debtors. 

2. Jesus' Testinf)ony to John (Luke vii. 18-35). — "^^^ i"^- 
prisonment of John had been one cause of Jesus' leaving 
Judea. For a year John's eagle spirit had been caged at 
" Black Castle," on the east shore of the Dead Sea. He had 
seen the parted heavens, and heard the divine voice at 
Jesus' baptism, and had pointed him out as the Messiah. 
But Jesus was not doing the work that John expected. 
Herods and Pilates and Caiaphases were still in power. 
Why did he not sift the nation, burn the chaff, and reign in 
righteousness? Perhaps it was with some such thoughts 
that John sent two of his disciples to Jesus to ask, " Art 
thou he that should come, or look we for another?" Jesus 
sends them back with word of the beneficent work he is 
doing, and then pronounces his high eulogy upon John. 

3. The Adoption of Parable Teaching (Matt, xiii.; Mark iv. 
1-34)' — We have reached the first great group of Jesus' par- 
ables. Two other great groups occur, one in the Perean 
ministry, and the other on the last day of our Lord's public 
work. The introduction of the parabolic form was a surprise 



124 A.V OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY, 

to the disciples (Matt. xiii. lo). The key to it is found in 
the deepening hostility and hopeless hypocrisy of the scribes 
and Pharisees. Miracle after miracle of beneficence had 
been performed ; yet they ascribed his power to the Prince 
of Devils (Matt. xii. 22-37), and then had the eifrontery to 
demand a sign of him (Matt. xii. 38-45). Jesus expresses 
his sense of the enormity of their sin by calling it the sin 
against the Holj^ Ghost, which has no forgiveness. It was 
to avoid precipitating a conflict wnth the rulers that he 
began to veil his teaching in parables, which he explained 
in private to his disciples (Matt. xiii. 10-16). Another rea- 
son was, doubtless, to add beauty and force to his lessons. 
But the adoption of the parabolic form marks a turning 
point closely connected with the growing hostility of the 
scribes and Pharisees. 

IV. FOURTH STAGE—TO THE SERMON IN THE SYNA- 
GOGUE AT CAPERNAUM. 

1. The Tempest Stilled and the Gadarene Demoniacs (Matt. 
viii. 18-34). — The day of parables had been a great day with 
Jesus. He had wrestled with demons, foes had plotted, 
friends had sought him, and he had closed the day with his 
immortal parables. Worn with his toils he gave orders to 
cross the little lake, his first recorded passage, though not 
the last. The sudden tempest, the intense alarm, the peace- 
ful slumber of the Master, his rebuke of the sea, " Peace, be 
still," and the instant calm of both wind and waves are told 
wdth exquisite simplicity. It may not be true that one mir- 
acle is greater than another; but it is true that certain mir- 
acles awed the beholders as others did not. " What manner 
of man is this that even the winds and the sea obey him?" 
On the eastern shore Jesus wrought another of those works 
that filled men with wonder. Two demoniacs met him, one 
of whom was afflicted with a legion of demons. The Gad- 
arenes were amazed at the sight of the fierce demoniacs 
clothed and sane, but angered at the loss of their swine; and 



THE GREAT GALILEAiV MINISTRY. 125 

Jesus, yielding to their entreaties, recrossed the sea to the 
western shore. 

2. The First Mission of the Twelve (Matt. ix. 35— xi. i). — 
After returning to Galilee Jesus made a second and last visit 
to his boyhood home; but the Nazarenes once more rejected 
him. Still the work must go on. It is too great for one, 
and it is time that the Twelve should serve an apprentice- 
ship in the art of preaching. He accordingly commissioned 
them to make a tour of Galilee, two and two, preaching and 
working miracles. Tn the meantime Jesus continued his 
own labors. It should be noted that the mission of the 
Twelve, like the personal mission of Jesus and that of John, 
was preparatory. It was limited to the lost sheep of the 
house of Israel, and its burden was, ""Repent, for the king- 
dom of heaven is at hand." 

2. Death of John the Baptist (Matt. xiv. 1-12). — In this 
connection, the death of John, which had occurred some time 
before, is narrated. Herod Antipas had married Herodias, 
wife of his living brother Philip. John did not hesitate to 
rebuke the sins of a governor. The unscrupulous Herodias 
knew no rest, and gave Herod none, till she had secured, 
first, John's imprisonment, and then his martyrdom. When 
the fame of Jesus' mighty deeds reached Herod's ears, he 
said: " It is John the BaptivSt risen from the dead." 

3. The Feeding of Five Thousand and the Sermon on the 
Bread of Life (Jno. vi.). — The Twelve returned from their 
tour of Galilee, and Jesus retired with them for rest and 
private instruction to the sparsely peopled district east of 
the lake. But still the multitude thronged to hear him, 
and still he taught them. Night was drawing on ; the people 
were far from their homes, with nothing to eat. With a 
compassion that felt for every want of man, he multiplied 
the few loaves and fishes till all were satisfied. It was the 
climax of his popularity. The multitude were bent on 
making him king. It was a return to the third temptation. 
But Jesus would not be their sort of a Messiah. Dismissing 
the multitude, and sending the Twelve across the sea, he 



126 AN- OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY, 

slipped away to the solitude of the mountain. Later in the 
night he came walking to them on the sea through the 
storm. The feeding of the five thousand is the only miracle 
recorded b}^ all the gospels. John, alone, has preserved the 
sermon in the synagogue at Capernaum, which grew out of 
it. He there dwells upon himself as the Bread of Life. The 
enthusiastic multitude begin to see that he is not their kind 
of a Messiah. Had he yielded to their low ideals, and been 
content to be an earthly king, he could have mounted at 
once into supreme power. Not for that had he come. The 
way of human redemption was, for him, the way of the cross. 
This great sermon in the synagogue at Capernaum marks 
another of the turning points in the life of Jesus. " Upon 
this many of his disciples went back, and walked no more 
with him" (Jno. vi. 66). Scribes and Pharisees have long 
hated him ; the Gadarenes and the .men of Nazareth have 
rejected him; Herod Antipas is beginning to take a danger- 
ous interest in him; and now his very disciples are turning, 
disappointed, away. 

V. FIFTH STAGE— TO THE FINAL DEPARTURE FROM GAL- 
ILEE AT THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES. 

1. Length. — ^Jesus did not attend the third passover of 
his ministry. It occurred about the time of the feeding of 
the five thousand (Jno. vi. 4). This final stage of the Gali- 
lean ministry, therefore, lasted about six months, from April 
to October. 

2. New Aspects. — This period presents new and striking 
aspects. It was a period of, — 

a. Wandering. ^^SM^ visited in succession Phoenicia, 
the Bashan District, and Decapolis. He did not, however, 
wholly cease his labors in Galilee. 

b. Seclusion. — He steadfastly avoided crowds, and sought 
to be alone with the Twelve. 

c. Private Instruction. — Few miracles are recorded, and 
little public teaching. He is training the Twelve in the 



THE GREA T GA LIL RAN MINISTR Y. 127 

fundamentals of his kingdom, and preparing them for his ap- 
proaching death (</ Matt. xvi. 21-23; xvii. 9; Mark ix. 30-32). 

3. Visit to Phoenicia (Matt. xv. 21-28). — He whose mis- 
sion is to save men from all lands went but once beyond his 
own. Only one incident of this visit is recorded — the heal- 
ing of the SyrophcEnician woman's daughter. Her faith, so 
humble, so unconquerable, must have brought refreshment 
after the hypocrisy of Pharisees and the fickleness of Gali- 
leans. Passing on through T3're and Sidon, Jesus made a 
long detour to Decapolis. Here multitudes throng around 
him once more, and once more he miraculously feeds them, 
to the number of four thousand. Crossing the lake, he 
returned again to Galilee. It is worthy of note that through- 
out this last stage of the Galilean ministry, while Jesus 
makes extensive tours outside the territory of Herod Anti- 
pas, he still makes Galilee the center w^hence he ^ets forth 
and to which he returns. 

4. Visit to Caesarea Philippi; the Great Confession (Matt, 
xvi.). — On Jesus' return to Galilee, the Pharisees, now rein- 
forced by the Sadducees, renewed their attacks (Matt. xvi. 
1-4); and, as Jesus set forth on this tour in the territory of 
Herod Philip, he solemnly warned his disciples of the 
"leaven" of the Pharisees and Sadducees. 

The end of his ministry is now approaching. He had 
never formally claimed to be the Messiah. He had pre- 
ferred to let the truth dawn gradually on men's minds 
through the works he wrought, the truths he spoke, the life 
he lived. But the time has rome to test the results, and to 
turn their silent conviction into open confession. After a sea- 
son of solitary prayer, Jesus put two questions to the Twelve: 
" Who do men say that the Son of man is ? " 
The various answers show how utterly the public had 
failed to comprehend him and his mission. 
"Who say ye that I am ?" 

"Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." 
It is impossible to exaggerate the importance of this con- 
fession. Suppose they, too, had missed the truth. 



128 yiJ^ OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

It was Peter who spoke; not for himself alone, but for 
the Twelve. Then Jesus' work was not a failure. He sees in 
the little circle around him the germs of his future church, 
and in Peter's confession the truth on which it was to be 
builded, the true "Apostles' Creed." But for the present it 
must not be proclaimed. Having committed them to his 
Messiahship, Jesus proceeds to reveal what his Messiahship 
involves — rejection, death, resurrection. Peter, still in the 
swaddling bands of carnal conceptions, protests. " Get thee 
behind me, Satan," is the Master's swift reproof; and he 
follows it up with the lesson, sorely needed still, that dis- 
cipleship, also, means self-denial; cross-bearing before crown- 
wearing. 

5. The Transfiguration (Matt. xvii. 1-13). — Throughout 
this period Jesus walked amidst darkening shadows: behind 
him, his rejection by the Galileans; before, the cross; yet 
around him, the band of still faithful disciples ; above him, 
the unalterable love of the Father. Before returning to face 
again his foes in Galilee, and more hostile foes in Judea, one 
splendid token of the divine presence and approval was 
vouchsafed to him. The transfiguration scene was intended 
partly for the disciples, but chiefly for their Master. It was 
witnessed by the chosen three — Peter, James and John. As 
he was absorbed in fervent prayer, the divine, breaking 
through the human veil, clothed face and raiment with 
heavenly radiance. Moses the mediator, and. Elijah the 
great reformer, of the Old Covenant, appeared, talking with 
him of his coming decease at Jerusalem ; while out of the 
heavens, as at the Jordan, there came the voice, "This is 
my Son in whom I am well pleased," significantly adding, 
" Hear ye him." It was indeed a significant scene. The 
memory of it long lingered with an apostle (II. Peter i. 
16-18). Prophets and apostles, the Old Covenant and the 
New, heaven and earth there met. To Jesus it was the seal 
of the Father's approval on an almost fruitless ministry, 
and the assurance that he would be with him to the end. 
To the disciples it meant that their confession had not been 



THE GREAT GALILEAN MINISTRY. 129 

a mistake nor their confidence misplaced ; that henceforth 
they were to hear and preach, not Moses, but Christ. But 
again the seal of temporary silence was put on their lips. 
The full import of the vision could be seen only in the light 
of the resurrection and ascension. Descending from the 
mount of vision, Jesus heals an epileptic demoniac, and re- 
turns to Capernaum, still striving to prepare the disciples 
for the impending catastrophe at Jerusalem. 

6. Close of the Galilean JVIinlstry. — Jesus did not tarry 
long in Galilee. His great work there was done. Avoiding 
crowds, working few if any miracles, he confined himself to 
still further impressing upon his disciples the spirituality of 
his kingdom, and the need of child-like humility if they 
would even enter into it (Matt, xviii. 1-14). The great Feast 
of Tabernacles was now at hand, and the little company, 
passing through Samaria, went once more to Jerusalem. 



CHAPTER V. 

CLOSING MINISTKY IN ALL PARTS OF PALESTINE. FROM 

THE FEAST OF TABERNACLES TO THE 

ARRIVAL AT BETHANY. 

This period of Jesus' ministry lasted six months, from 
October to April, exclusive of the six days before the Pass- 
over. As during the previous six months, Jesus was a fu- 
gitive. We shall find him successively at Jerusalem; in the 
country of Judea; at Jerusalem again; in Perea; at Bethany 
near Jerusalem; in Perea; back at Bethany again; in Perca 
once more, with a possible journey through Samaria and 
Galilee, and a final return to the neighborhood of Jerusalem. 

1. At Jerusalem; the Feast of Tabernacles (Jno. vii. lo; 
x 2i). — Here, as usual for visits to Jerusalem, our author- 
ity is John. Before he left Galilee, Jesus' relatives hv.d 
urged him to join the caravan en route to the 'feast, Pud 
there, at the nation's capital, proclaim his Messiahsliip. 
But Jesus had his own plans. Pie would not endanger tlici-a 
by yielding to the carnal hopes of his friends, nor by prema- 
turely precipitating a conflict with his enemies. It is still 
six months to the Passover; then he will voluntarily ofTcr 
himself as the world's true Passover. So his relatives went 
with the throng to the feast, not knowing whether lie would 
follow. At Jerusalem one question was buzzing from lip to 
lip : " Where is He ? " Finally, in the middle of the festival, 
Jesus came privately to Jerusalem, and going straiglit to 
the temple, began to teach. The Rabbis were scandalize 1 
thit he did not speak the language of t'l 2 rvr.r.r.dx. sc'i')0' .; 

1..0 



CLOSING MINISTRY. 131 

but he kept fearlessly on. One incident is narrated — that of 
the woman taken in adultery.* One miracle occurred — the 
healing of the man borft blind, which gave great offense 
because it was done on the Sabbath. The Jews went so 
far as to seek to stone him. Under the beautiful figure of 
the Good Shepherd, Jesus intimates that he is to voluntarily 
die for his flock, and to rise again. 

2. In the Country Districts of Judea. — Retiring before the 
plots of the Jews of Jerusalem, Jesus spends a few weeks near 
the city. Only one miracle is recorded — another Sabbath 
healing; but he pours forth a wondrous wealth of instruc- 
tion. Portions of it, as the model prayer, and the parables 
of the mustard seed, and the leaven, seem to be repetitions 
of earlier Galilean lessons. Two beautiful parables — the 
Rich Fool and the Good Samaritan — are new, and are pecu- 
liar to Luke, to whom we are indebted for the history of these 
two months. 

But Jesus was not content with such evangelization as 
he could do personally. The time was short, and much 
remained to be done. As in Galilee he had sent out the 
Twelve, so now in Judea he sends forth the seventj'. They 
are charged with the old message : " Repent, the kingdom is 
at hand." 

It is also in this period that we get our first glimpse of 
the Bethany sisters: Mary at the Master's feet, Martha 
" cumbered with much serving." 

3. In Jerusalem; Feast of Dedication (Jno. x. 22-42).— In 
our December, two months later than the Feast of Taber- 
nacles, Jesus returned to Jerusalem to the Feast of Dedica- 
tion. The Jews encountered him in Solomon's porch, 
demanding an explicit statement whether or not he was the 
Messiah. Jesus declined a direct answer, well knowing that 
his naked assertion would weigh little with men self-blinded 
to the evidence of his own life and ministry. Once more 



* This incident is wanting- in the oldest manuscripts, but is prob- 
ably historical, even if not part of John's Gospel. 



132 - AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

they took up stones to kill him. Once more Jerusalem and 
Judea, like Capernaum and Galilee, were closed to him. 
One province was j'et open to him, the half-heathen prov- 
ince of Perea beyond the Jordan ; and thither Jesus turned 
his face. 

4. At Bethany ; The Raising of Lazarus (Jno. xi. 1-54). — 
Jesus' ministry in Perea was interrupted by the death of 
Lazarus. We would gladly know more of the little circle at 
Bethany. Jesus' great heart took in the world; yet with 
peculiar tenderness he " loved Martha and her sister and 
Lazarus." He must have paid many unrecorded visits to 
that home. It was not indifference which kept him in Perea, 
so far from his dying friend and the sorrowing sisters. How 
much would they and we have missed had he returned to 
heal him as he had healed so many hundreds ! He came at 
last, to weep with them, to draw forth from broken hearts 
the confession of their faith, to speak those words on which 
sorrowing souls without number have leaned : " I am the 
resurrection and the life," and to demonstrate his words by 
his deeds. The world could ill-afford to miss the chapter 
which relates the recall of Jesus from Perea and of Lazarus 
from the dead. 

A miracle so stupendous so near to Jerusalem could not 
fail to make a stir. Many believed on him; but no power in 
heaven or on earth could compel hypocritical Pharisee or 
wily Sadducee to believe. At swords' points on so many 
questions, in this dangerous miracle they found a common 
rallying ground. Acting on the counsel of the High Priest, 
Caiaphas, the council decreed his death. The living Laz- 
arus was an unanswerable argument, and they even talked 
of involving him in the same sentence. Jesus therefore 
retired to Ephraim, thence once more to Perea, possibly 
making a tour through Samaria and Southern Galilee. 

5. The Perean Ministry (Luke xiii. 22— xvii. 10; Matt. 

xix. XX. 28).— In Perea Jesus entered upon a comparatively 

new field. It was the scene of John's earliest ministry (Jno. 
X. 40; cf. i. 28); and Jesus doubtless reaped where John had 



CLOSING Ministry. 133 

sown, for his work was here attended with something of the 
earlier success in Galilee (Jno. x. 41, 42). It is doubtful 
whether a single miracle can be assigned to Perea; but a body 
of teaching has come down to us marked with peculiar and 
tender earnestness. Here were spoken the second great 
group of parables, recorded by Luke alone : the Great Sup- 
per, the Lost Sheep, Lost Coin, Prodigal Son, Unjust Stew- 
ard, Rich Man and Lazarus, Importunate Widow, and Phari- 
see and Publican. Matthew adds the Laborers in the Vine- 
yard. All the synoptists give the incidents of Christ 
blessing little children, and the Rich Young Ruler. It was 
near the close, as they were nearing the Jordan and Jeru- 
salem that James and John came to Jesus with their am- 
bitious petition for places at his right hand and his left. 
They were dreaming of crowns ; he was looking forward to 
the cross. Leaving Perea behind, Jesus crossed the Jordan 
at the usual ford near Jericho. As he passed the old city, 
blind Bartimaeus received his sight and Zaccheus the pub- 
lican the deeper healing which it is the supreme mission of 
Christ to bring. Climbing the steep ascent, Jesus reached 
the little suburban village of Bethany six days before the 
Passover. The long journeys are over; the end is at hand. 



CHAPTER VI. 

THE LAST WEEK OF JESUS' MINISTRY. 

1. The Anointing at Bethany (Matt. xxvi. 6-13 ; Mark xiv. 
i-ii; Jno. xii. 1-8). — Jesus had arrived at Bethany on 
Friday night. He must have been the center of interest to 
the throng of pilgrims on their way to the Passover. While 
they passed on to lodge with friends in the city, or tent on 
the slopes of Olivet and in the vale of Kedron, he sought the 
well-known Bethany home. Always a welcome guest, he 
would now be thrice welcome. The Sabbath would be 
passed in rest ; but that night a supper was given in his 
honor at the house of Simon, the leper. Mary, Martha and 
lyazarus were all present, rejoicing in the restored life of one, 
the renewed fellowship of each other, and in the presence of 
Him to whom they owed so much. But there was one whose 
gratitude could not be expressed in coarse or common ways. 
Gazing into the Lord's face, listening to his gracious words 
till she could forbear no longer, she arose, and, bringing a 
vase of costly ointment, poured it first on his head, then on 
his feet as he reclined at table. There were coarse souls 
then, as now, who criticized the " waste "; but to Jesus the 
love which prompted it was of priceless value. " Let her 
alone ; she hath done what she could ; she hath anointed 
my body aforehand for the burying." * 



* This anointing- is not to be confounded with that in Luke vii. 

That was early ; this, late in Jesus' ministry ; that, at the house of Simon 

the Pharisee; this, at the house of Simon the leper ; that, by a reclaimed 
134 



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LAST WEEK' OF JESUS' MINISTRY. 136 



2. Sunday: the Triumphal Entry (Matt. xxi. 1-17). — Dur- 
ing the Passover week Jerusalem was crowded with strang- 
ers from all parts of Palestine and of the empire, many of 
whom had heard Jesus, more of whom had heard of him. 
The effect of the Perean ministry and the raising of l^azarus 
had been to kindle anew the blaze of popularity on one 
hand, and the fires of hate on the other. The end is at 
hand ; Jesus therefore no longer shuns the inevitable con- 
flict, but yields to a public Messianic demonstration. But 
he intimates the nature of his reign by choosing an ass colt, 
the symbol of peace, instead of a horse, the symbol of war. 
As he reached the summit of Olivet, multitudes from tlie 
city met the multitudes coming up with him from Bethan}- ; 
and, with shouts and hosannas and triumphal demonstra- 
tions, he is conducted into Jerusalem. The whole. city was 
stirred, though with conflicting emotions. It was a purely 
provincial demonstration ; Jerusalem, over which he had 
wept as it burst in view from Olivet, held coldly aloof or 
openly criticized. One can not help asking. What if she, 
too, had accepted her Lord ? We can not answer. We only 
know the rejection was final. The enthusiastic disciples 
were doubtless disappointed ; Jesus did not follow up the 
Messianic demonstration as they had hoped; simply surve}-- 
ing everything in the temple, he returned for the night to 
Bethany. 

3. Monday: The Barren Fig Tree; the Second Cleansing of 
the Temple (Matt. xxi. 12, 13, 18, 19; Mark xi. 12-18).— 
On the way to the city in the morning Jesus performed the 
miracle that was both miracle and parable in one. The 
barren fig tree, by its unusual foliage, boasted of unusual 
fruitfulness. With a word from Jesus it perished : fit em- 
blem of the false city and nation, or of the false life, whose 
doom is destruction. Passing on, Jesus entered the temple. 



woman ; this, by the spiritual-souled Mary; in that, Simon found fault 
because of the character of the woman : in this, Judas finds fault because 
of the waste. 



1^6 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

As a sequel of Sunday's survey, lie cleansed it again as lie 
had done at his first Passover. An interesting incident is 
preserved by John (xii. 20-33) concerning some representa- 
tives of the gifted Greek nation whom Philip and Andrew 
brought to Jesus. He foresaw the time when, by his lifting 
up on the cross, men of all races should be drawn unto him- 
self. His soul shrank from the sacrifice ; but " except a 
grain of wheat fall into the earth and die it abideth alone." 
Thus, to the last, Jesus seized every occasion to set forth the 
nature of his kingdom. Had he chosen, he could, in a day, 
have wrought a political revolution and founded an earthly 
empire ; but that question was long since settled. Man's 
crown and his own as well must come by way of the cross. 

4. Tuesday: The Day of Questions (Matt. xxi. 23 — xxv. 
46). — We come now to the last and greatest day in Jesus' 
public ministry. It opens in the temple with a series of 
questions designed to discredit him with the people : (i) By 
a committee from the Sanhedrin touching his authority ; (2) 
by the Pharisees about the tribute; (3) by the Sadducees 
concerning the resurrection ; (4) by the Pharisees, again, con- 
cerning the great commandment; (5) by Jesus himself con- 
cerning the Christ. Jesus wove into his matchless answers 
three of the third great group of parables, viz.: the Two 
Sons, the Wicked Husbandmen, and the Marriage of the 
King's Son. Then, turning upon his foes, he poured upon 
them the " pent-up criticism of a life time." Thick and hot 
fell the thunderbolts of his seven-fold " wo unto you scribes 
and Pharisees, hypocrites." It was deserved ; but Jesus 
must have known it was fatal. Henceforth he could expect 
no mercy. The last event, as Jesus left the temple forever, 
was his commendation of the widow's two mites. This 
beautiful incident, following close upon the Great Denun- 
ciation, seems like a spring violet in the bosom of a glacier. 

Passing out with the Twelve, he sat down on the slope of 
Olivet, facing the city and temple. There, in response to a 
remark of the disciples on the huge temple stones, and a 
question concerning his second coming, he delivered the 



Last week of/esus' ministry. i^t 

discourse on the destruction of Jerusalem and his second 
advent. The lessons of it all were, " Watch ; be ready ; 
redeem your opportunities." These he enforced by the par- 
ables of the Ten Virgins and Talents. Then follows the 
tenderly solemn picture of the judgment scene recorded in 
the twenty- fifth chapter of Matthew. 

So closed the last and greatest day of Jesus' public min- 
istr}', the fullest and most varied, both in incident and in 
teaching. A few minutes' walk with his disciples, and Jesus 
rested once more in the quiet precincts of Bethany. 

But his enemies ; not so closed the day with them. In 
secret conclave they decided, first, that he must die, and, 
secondly, that his murder must not be during the feast; for, 
cowardly as they w^ere hypocritical, thc}^ durst not lay hands 
on him in the presence of the friendly multitudes. 

And now we meet one of the enigmas of histor3^ Just 
in the nick of time, in comes Judas, a disciple, one of the 
Twelve, who will know his haunts and his lodging places, 
and offers to betray his Master— ^^r money. The narratives 
point clearly to avarice as the motive (Matt. xxvi. 14, 15; 
Mark xiv. 10, 11 ; Luke xxii. 3-5 ; cf. Jno. xii. 4-6). He who 
carped at an offering of love sold his Master for thirty pieces 
of silver, one-third the price of Mary's grateful sacrifice. 

5. Wednesday: The Calm Before the Storm. — There 
seems to be no record of Wednesday's events. We are left 
to imagine its scenes — the whole city watching, wondering 
why he did not return to the temple ; the people hungering 
to hear, the authorities thirsting for his blood. But his 
work was done. He may have spoken to his disciples pri- 
vately at Bethany; more likely he passed the day in restful, 
prayerful preparation for the final scenes. We do not know. 
The veil of secrecy rests on the day. " On that night he lay 
down for the last time on earth. On Thursday morning he 
woke never to sleep again." 

6. Thursday : The Last Supper (Matt. xxvi. 17-35; Jno- xiii. 
1-17).— Sometime Thursday Jesus sent two of his disciples 
into the city to prepare for the Paschal meal. That night he 



138 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

sat down once more at the table with the Twelve ; for Judas 
was still present — in appearance, a disciple; at heart, a traitor 
and a spy. A cloud was cast over the little company as 
they were taking their seat by a dispute as to the place of 
precedence. In that beautiful way, so worthy, yet so difficult, 
of imitation, Jesus rebuked their ambition. Rising from the 
table he proceeded, as a common servant, to wash their feet ; 
then, turning to the abashed disciples, he impressed the les- 
son of humility and service. Still darker fell the clouds as 
Jesus went on to say, " One of you shall betray me." Judas 
soon withdrew — on some friendly service, as the disciples 
supposed ; to execute his dark design, as Jesus knew. Jesus 
then reveals his desertion by all, his denial by the self- 
confident Peter. Then the cloud lifts, and Jesus institutes 
the beautiful memorial supper and begins the matchless dis- 
course recorded in Jno. xiv. — xvi. He concludes the con- 
versation with the real Lord's Prayer (Jno. xvii.) ; a prayer 
which embraces in its widening circle his immediate disciples, 
all who should believe on him through their word, and the 
world. So, in tender discourse and in world-embracing pray- 
er, the day wore away till near the hour of midnight. Pasr^- 
ing out of the room into the moonlight, Jesus left the city 
behind and walked with his disciples in the direction of 
Bethany. 

7. Gethsemane (Matt. xxvi. 36-46). — On the eastern edge 
of the ravine called Kedron, at the foot of Mt. Olivet, lay a 
well-known garden or orchard called Gethsemane (oil press). 
It was a favorite resort of Jesus. Entering the shadows of 
the olive trees, he left all but the chosen Three, and went 
further into the garden for prayer. Leaving the Three just 
at hand, he penetrated still deeper into the shadows, and fell 
prone on his face in unutterable agony. He was " greatly 
amazed " ; " sore troubled " ; " exceeding sorrowful, even 
unto death " ; '• his sweat became as it were great drops of 
blood." Thrice from his lips went up the subdued cry, 
*' Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me ; never- 
theless, not as I will, but as thou wilt." Thrice he returned 



LAST WEEK OF JESUS' MINISTRY. 139 

to the Three to find them sleeping. What does it all mean ? 
Was it fear of physical death that forced the bloody sweat 
from his face, and the cry of agony from his lips ? Then he 
had less heroism than many a Spartan warrior, less physical 
courage than many a brutal criminal on the scaffold. Has 
the glorious manhood we have followed so long shrunk to 
this pitiful measure at last ? Has it not all a far sublimer 
meaning? Was it not a mightier sorrow that was crushing 
him to earth — the infinite burden of a world's sins and sor- 
rows? The scene is too tenderly sacred for cold speculation. 
We only know that out of this, as out of all previous assaults 
upon his purpose, he came victorious : " He was heard in 
that he feared" (Heb. v. 7); "An angel appeared from 
heaven strengthening him " (I^uke xxii. 43). 



^. :Y A 



CHAPTER VII. 

THE LAST DAY. MATT. XXVI. 45 XXVII. 66 AND PARA«L. 

LEL PASSAGES. 

Introductory. — It is sometimes felt that we magnify the 
death of Christ at the expense of his life. That is possible. 
It is possible to dwell upon it in a hard mechanical way, 
which fails to make the cross the natural culmination of the 
Father's love and of Jesus' life. Yet it is a suggestive fact 
that no other day's doings in the Bible are narrated with equal 
fullness. Were Jesus' whole life as fully related, it would fill 
four hundred volumes as large as the entire New Testament. 

1. The Betrayal. — The three disciples had slept while 

Jesus prayed. Not so Judas. He had been busy perfecting 

his plans. As Jesus arose from his supplications and 

returned to the disciples, Judas entered the garden with a 

band of soldiers armed with weapons and torches. These 

poor tools would not know Jesus ; but, that there might be 

no mistake, Judas had given a signal ; and going straight to 

Jesus he said : " Hail, Master," and kissed him. An awe fell 

on the hirelings at sight of the famous Prophet of Galilee, 

and they fell back at first ; but, plucking up courage at last, 

they seized Jesus, and bound him and led him away. It was 

all more than Peter could endure, and an ill-directed blow 

from his sword cut off the ear of the High Priest's servant. 

But swords, whether of friend or foe, were alike needless 

and useless. His foes could not have availed against powers 

at his command had he willed to use them; and friends 

could not avail in his behalf against his own settled purpose 
no 



THE LAST DAY, 141 



and Jewish hate. Divine love and diabolical hate, the 
sublime purposes of God, and the mean purposes of men, 
meet and mingle around the cross. 

2. The Trials. — The Romans left the Jews, as they left all 
conquered peoples, a large measure of liberty. So long as 
they kept the peace and paid the taxes, they could manage 
local affairs pretty much in their own way. But while their 
national council might adjudge a prisoner worthy of death, 
the death sentence was reserved to the Roman court. Thus 
there were two distinct trials of Jesus: a Jewish or ecclesi- 
astical, and a Roman or civil trial. In each trial there were 
three stages. 

a. The Jewish or Ecclesiastical Trial. — (i) The first phase 
was a preliminary examination before Annas. Annas had 
been the High Priest many years before, and was still 
regarded by the Jews as High Priest de jure. He was a man 
of advanced age and great influence. After a few questions, 
Annas sent Jesus to Caiaphas ; but not until the first cruel 
blow had fallen on his person. (2) The second phase was 
before Caiaphas, and was much more important. Caiaphas 
was the son-in-law of Annas, and was the High Priest de 
facto, and, as such, president of the Sanhedrin or council. 
Any meeting of the Sanhedrin before sunrise would be 
illegal ; but the leaders were evidently on hand to practically 
secure the condemnation of Jesus before the people should 
be astir. It was diflfiLCult to frame a plausible charge. Sev- 
eral absurd accusations were brought forward, but the wit- 
nCvSses disagreed, and Jesus maintained a dignified silence. 
The prosecution was in danger of breaking down, when 
Caiaphas determined to make him criminate himself. " Art 
thou the Christ, the Son of the blessed ? " Jesus had been 
silent before.- To that question he could not be silent, and 
answered, " I am." '* Blasphemy," shouted Caiaphas. " He 
is worthy of death," echoed the hostile judges. It must 
have been soon after midnight when Jesus was arrCvSted. It 
still lacked some time of sunrise, and the interval before the 
fyll meeting of the Sanhedrin was spent in brutal mockery 



142 AN- OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY, 

of the unresisting prisoner. (3) The third stage before the 
full council was merely a formal ratification of the decision 
already reached. 

Sometime during the earlier stages occurred the fall of 
Peter. Together with John, he had crept back to be near 
his Master, and watch the proceedings. It was perilous 
ground; and Peter, yielding to terror as one and another 
pointed scornfully at him as a Galilean, thrice denied his 
Lord, even adding oaths to denials. Poor Peter! But he 
was not hopelessly lost. The crowing of the cock, the re- 
membrance of Jesus' prediction and of his own proud 
boastfulness, together with a sad, silent look from Jesus as 
he crossed the court to Caiaphas' palace, recalled him to his 
better self; "And he went out and wept bitterly." 

There was another side scene far sadder and far more ter- 
rible. Judas, too, had kept an eye on the proceedings. It 
may be he had hoped that Jesus would break away from his 
bonds, and manifest his glory. No harm would befall the 
Master, while he himself would be thirty shekels the richer. 
But the three stages of the Jewnsh trial came to a close. 
Jesus is condemned to die. Pilate's sentence only is needed. 
Remorse seizes on Judas. Those thirty pieces of silver are 
burning into his very soul. Rushing before the council he 
flings them down, saying : "I have betrayed innocent 
blood." " That is your business, not ours," is the heartless 
answer. The traitor is always despised as a tool by those 
who use him. And going out he hung himself {cf. Matt, 
xxvii. 5 ; Acts i. 18, 19). Why did he not go, even then, and 
throw himself at Jesus' feet, and receive the benediction of 
his forgiveness ? Remorse is not repentance. Judas stands 
for one ; Peter for the other. 

b. The Roman or Civil Trial. — Here, also, there were 
three stages, (i) Before Pilate. Pilate's first quevStion was : 
" What accusation ? " The Jewish charge of blasphemy, on 
which they had condemned him, would not avail before a 
Roman court. They first sought to secure Pilate's sentence 
on vague charges of evil doing ; but, with a Roman's sense of 



THE LAST DA K 143 



justice, Pilate insists on explicit charges. " He forbids to 
give tribute to Caesar : he claims to be Christ a king." The 
first was a lie ; and Pilate soon satisfied himself that Jesus 
did not claim royalty in any dangerous political sense, and 
declared him innocent. They were not to be put off so, and 
made a fourth charge that he stirred up sedition all the way 
from Galilee to Jerusalem. Pilatj was in a dilemma. He 
was unwilHng to condemn an innocent man ; he feared to 
offend the Jews. But he caught at the word Galilee. That 
was Herod's province ; Herod was in the city; the two gov- 
ernors were at enmity; here w^as a rare chance to show 
Herod a courtesy and heal the feud, and at the same time 
get rid of a disagreeable and dangerous case. So Pilate sent 
Jesus to Herod. (2) Before Herod. Herod had been anxious 
to meet Jesus, hoping to witness some miracle. But Jesus, 
acting on his own precept not to cast pearls before swine, 
to all Herod's questioning returned not one word. Then 
occurred the second derision. Utterly foiled, Herod and 
his brutal soldiery arrayed Jesus in an old royal robe and 
sent him back to Pilate. (3) Before Pilate again. About 
this time the populace began to clamor for the release of a 
prisoner, an annual favor at the Passover. Pilate instantly 
proposed Jesus. But the priests have been busy with the 
people. Jesus, riding into the city at the head of a tri- 
umphal processi6n, and Jesus, condemned by the Sanhedrin, 
awaiting Pilate's sentence, are two persons. ** Not this man, 
but Barabbas ; now Barabbas was a robber." Awhile longer 
Pilate struggled with the mob and his own conscience, then • 
yielded and gave the order to crucify Jesus. In the interval- 
Pilate's soldiers added their mockery, arraying him in a 
scarlet robe, thrusting a reed into his hand, and pressing a 
rough wreath of thorns upon his head. 

So ends the six fold trial, in which treachery and hypoc- 
risy and cowardice and selfish policy and savage brutality 
stand in everlasting antithesis with the supreme manhood 
of Jesus. Even there and then, arrayed in mock royalty, 
facing the jeers and insults of the mob, he was a thousand 



144 AM OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

times more a king than any who ever sat on the throne of a 
Herod, or wore the diadem of a Caesar. 

3. The Crucifixion. — a. Hour and Place. — It was about 
nine in the morning when the order to crucify was given. 
Jesus suffered without the city (Heb. xiii. 12) at a spot 
called, in Hebrew, Golgotha ; in Greek, Cranion ; in Latin, 
Calverium (Calvary) — all meaning skull. It was probably a 
skull-shaped knoll to the northwest of the city. 

b. On the Way. — Jesus went forth bearing his own cross; 
but before reaching Golgotha, the guards seized a young 
Cyrenian and laid the cross on him; peihaps because the 
weight was too great for Jesus' strength, exhausted by the 
night's vigils and the morning's sufferings. Some, even in 
that dark hour, were found to bewail his fate. The lips, so 
long silent under insult, now broke forth in pity; not for 
himself, but for those so soon to be overwhelmed in the ruin 
impending over Jerusalem. 

c. At the Cross. — Two highwaymen were crucified with 
him. Crucifixion was the Roman mode of execution for the 
lowest criminals. The women of Jerusalem, out of pity, 
were accustomed to prepare a stupefying drink for such oc- 
casions. Such a draught was now offered ; but Jesus refused 
to cloud his faculties even to ease his pain. 

d. The Seve7i Sayings from the Cross. — There are seven 
sayings of Jesus from the cross recorded: (i) The first 
of these was probably spoken at this moment. The 
bodies were first nailed to the cross, and then the cross 
roughly set in its socket. " Father, forgive them ; they 
know not what they do"; referring to the rude sol- 
diers who shortly after sat down to gamble over the rai- 
ment of Jesus. Pilate had prepared the several accusa- 
tions to be placed above the victims. That of Jesus, in 
Hebrew, Greek and Latin, was meant by Pilate, and felt by 
the Jews, as a fling at them : " Jesus of Nazareth, the King of 
the Jews." They protested, but to no purpose. (2) Jesus' 
mother and two other Marys stood with John near the cross. 
To his mother and John he addressed his second saying: 



THE LAST DA V. 145 



" Behold thy son ; behold thy mother "; mindful still of oth- 
ers rather than of self. (3) And now begins the sickening 
spectacle of power venting its pent-up spite on weak- 
ness. The chief priests and scribes and rulers, the heads of 
the nation joined in the jeers of the rabble- such a scene 
always calls together. " He saved others, himself he can not 
save "; a deeper truth than they dreamed : for how cou/d he 
save himself if he would save others ? Even the thieves on 
the cross, poor wretches, joined in the raillerj^ ; both at first, 
till one, touched to pity and repentance by innocent suffer- 
ing, turned to the central cross with the prayer, " Remember 
me when thou comest in thy kingdom." True to his name 
and mission to the last, Jesus utters the third saying from 
the cross, " This day shalt thou be with me in Paradise." (4) 
Then, from twelve to three, ensued three hours of darkness 
and of silence. It is the hour of the evening sacrifice, when, 
out of the darkness and from the cross, goes up to Heaven 
the first and the last complaint from those patient lips, the 
mysterious words, " My God, my God, why hast ^/lou for- 
saken me ?" Swifty there follow the remaining utterances : 
(5) " I thirst," the first and last expression of bodily pain. 
Awe had rendered hard hearts tender, and Jesus received a 
cup of cooling vinegar. Once more he speaks : (6) " It is 
finished "; finished, not merely ended, the noblest life ever 
lived on earth ; finished, the work of human redemption ; 
finished, fulfilled, in a far sublimer sense than Patriarchs 
and prophets ever dreamed, the types and symbols and 
prophecies of the Old Covenant. (7) Then, bowing his head, 
with the seventh and last saying of the cross he yielded up 
his spirit : " Father, into th}' hands I commend my vSpirit." 
e. End of the Old Covenant. — At the moment of his ex- 
piring cry the land felt the thrill of an earthquake shock. 
The temple vail was rent from top to bottom ; for Jesus' cross 
marked the termination of the Old Covenant with its types 
and shadows (Col. ii. 14). Men were filled with awe. Even 
the Roman centurion was constrained to say, " Surely this 
was the Son of God." 



146 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

4. The Burial. — The day following the crucifixion was a 
high Sabbath. The Jews could commit murder ; but they 
could not ceremonially defile the Sabbath ; the bodies must 
not remain on the crosses after sunse't. To hasten death 
the legs were broken; but Jesus was already dead, as shown 
by the coagulum which followed the soldier's spear thrust. 
Two prophecies were thus unconsciously fulfilled (Ps. xxxiv. 
20; xxii. 16, 17). Jesus' bod}^ was delivered to two of his 
disciples, Joseph of Arimathsea and Nicodemus ; loving 
hands prepared it for burial in Joseph's new tomb ; and at 
the request of the yet fearful Jews, the Roman seal and a 
Roman guard makes the sepulcher secure. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

THE FORTY DAYS. MATT. XXVIII.; MARK XVI.; LUKE 



1, The Resurrection. — The resurrection of the Messiah had 
been distinctly predicted by prophets (Ps. xvi. lo; Is. Iv. 3; 
cf. Acts ii. 25-31 ; xiii. 34-37), and repeatedly foretold by 
Jesus himself (Matt. xvi. 21 ; xvii. 9; xx. 19; xxvi. 31, 32). 
But the minds of the disciples were so preoccupied with 
notions of a political kingdom that they could not or would 
not think of the Christ as actually dying. His death, there- 
fore, left them dazed, benumbed. To all human appearance 
never was a cause more helplessly lost than the cause of 
Jesus when he expired on the cross. The hopes of the dis- 
ciples were buried with the bod)- of Jesus in the tomb of 
Joseph. Had not Jesus risen their hopes would never have 
revived. Had not Jesus risen the world would never have 
heard of him. The Birth, the Person, the Resurrection — 
these are the three essential and creative miracles. They 
are the sole and sufficient key to Christianity. The Sabbath 
passed — a sorrowful Sabbath to the stricken disciplles. With 
the dim dawn came the devoted women, " last at the cross, 
first at the sepulcher" — the two Marys and others. They 
had seen the place of burial, but knew nothing of the seal or 
the guard. They brought spices to complete what there had 
not been time to do the night of the crucifixion. But the 
tomb was empty! Peter and John were near at hand, and 
soon at the sepulcher. The first thought of all was that the 
body had been stolen ; but a vision of angels revealed the 
resurrection. 

147 



148 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

2. The Ten Appearances of Jesus. — (i) To Mary Magda- 
lene. The disciples went away more bewildered than ever. 
But Mary lingered at the sepulcher. To her raptured sight 
first of all Jesus appeared, and met her with a message to the 
disciples. (2) To the other women a little later. Jesus ap- 
peared to the other women as they went in search of the 
disciples, and sent them also with a message to his brethren. 
(3) To Simon Peter : mentioned incidentally in lyuke xxiv. 
33, 34; also by Paul (I. Cor. xv. 5). (4) To two disciples on 
the way to Emmaus. The same day Cleopas, with another 
disciple, went on some errand to the neighboring village of 
Emmaus. They had heard of the empty tomb and the vis- 
ion of angels. As they walked and talked of all that had 
happened Jesus himself joined them,, drew from them the 
cause of their sadness, opened to them the prophecies con- 
cerning himself, and finally made himself known to them in 
the breaking of bread. Returning that evening to Jerusa- 
lem, they found the apostles and others eagerly talking of 
Jesus' appearance to Simon. Their own account must have 
added fuel to the flame already kindled. Still they were in- 
credulous. (8) To the apostles and others in the absence of 
Thomas. In the very midst of the excitement Jesus himself 
suddenly appeared in their midst, and greeted them with 
the salutation, " Peace unto you," and chided them for their 
unbelief To assure them of the reality of his resurrection, 
and of his appearance to them, he showed them his pierced 
hands and feet, and ate in their presence. All the above 
appearances occurred on the day that Jesus rose. (6) To 
the apostles, including Thomas. Thomas had been absent 
from the Sunday night meeting, and would not believe the 
testimony of the others. One week later they were all to- 
gether, and Jesus appeared to them again. Thomas yielded 
to the testimony of his own senses, and became the last 
apostolic convert (save Paul) to the fact of the resurrection.. 
(7) To seven disciples at the sea of Galilee. The disciples 
had returned to their old occupation of fishing. After a 
night of fruitless toil, they were directed by a stranger on 



The FORI Y DAYS. i4d 

the shore to cast their net on the right. The results re- 
vealed at once to John that it was the Master ; but Peter 
was first to swim ashore to greet him. It was on this occa- 
sion that Jesus drew from Peter his threefold avowal of his 
love, as a revocation, no doubt, of his threefold denial. (S) 
To five hundred disciples. This probably occurred in Gali- 
lee {cf. Matt, xxviii. i6, 19; I. Cor. xv. 6), where the body cf 
his disciples lived. We have no certain details of this 
meeting. (9) To James (I. Cor. xv. 7). (10) To the apostles 
on Olivet at the time of the ascension. It is probable 
that, during the forty days from the resurrection to the 
ascension, Jesus was with his disciples many more times 
than has been recorded, and gave them much more in- 
struction than appears in the fragmentary history. (See 
Acts i. 3.) 

3. The Last Commission. — Either at his last interview or 
during the several interviews after his resurrection, Jesus 
gave the apostles their final commission. The mission of 
John, the personal mission of Jesus, the first mission of the 
Twelve, and that of the Seventy, had all been preparator3\ 
Their message had been " The kingdom at hand " {cf. Matt. 
iii. 2 ; iv. 17 ; X. 7 ; Luke x. 9). It had been restricted to 
Israel (Matt. x. 5 ; xv. 24), The apOvStles had not even been 
permitted to preach that Jesus is the Christ (Matt. xvi. 20 ; 
xvii. 9). Christ came to live and suffer and rise that there 
might be a gospel to be preached. Now, all restrictions but 
one are removed. They are to preach a full and final gos- 
pel — that is, " Christ and him crucified " (I. Cor. x\ . 1-4 ; ii. 
i); to "the whole creation"; to " make disciples of all the 
nations" through faith in Christ, repentance of sin, and 
baptism. " into th? name of Father, Son and Holy Spirit." 
But they were n >: yet fully qualified ; therefore, " Tarry ye in 
tlie city of Jerusaieni until ye be clothed with power from 
on high " ; for " ye shall be baptized with the Holy Spirit 
mt many da , s hence." Such, in substance, is the last 
commission under which, for eighteen Christian centuries, 
the work of world-wide evangelization has gone on. 



150 AN OUlLiNE OP BIBLE HISTORY. 

4. The Ascension. — " It is expedient for you that I go 
away; for if I go not away the Comforter wuU not come unto 
you; but if I depart I will send him unto you " (Jno. xvi. 7). 
And so Jesus led his disciples out to the Mount of Olives, 
and " he lifted up his hands and blessed them. And it came 
to pass while he blessed them, he was parted from them and 
carried up into heaven." The ascension shed new light on 
the mission of the Messiah. Their old carnal dreams began 
to disappear. God has stooped to man that he might lift 
man up to God. And so the eleven return with joy to Jeru- 
salem, and the gospel history closes with the disciples wait 
ing for the promised Spirit. 



BOOK II. 

APOSTOLIC HISTORY ; OR, THE FOUNDING AND 
EXTENSION OF THE CHURCH, A. D. 3O-IOO. 



INTRODUCTION. 

1. Sources of Apostolic History. — These are, — 

a. The Book of Acis. — The author had written the third 
gospel (</ i. I ; I/iike i. 1-4). He was a traveling companion 
of Paul. See Acts xvi. 10; xx. 6 and other "we" passages. 
We know from Paul's Epistles (Col. iv. 14 ; II. Tim. iv. 11; 
Philem. 23, 24) that Luke was one of his co-workers, and 
uniform tradition has ascribed the Book to Luke. The title, 
The Acts of the Apostles, which is no part of the original 
book, is misleading. It relates only a few of the acts of 
some of the apostles. One of the oldest manuscripts gives 
the better title, Acts of Apostles. 

b. Historical Allusions in the Epistles. — The Epistles are 
twenty-one in number, fourteen of which (with the possible 
exception of Hebrews) are from the pen of Paul. 

c. The Book of Revelation. — This gives scenes in the life 
of the Apostle John long after the other apostles were dead. 

2. Relation to Gospel History.— (i) Throughout the gos- 
pels, John, Jesus, the Twelve, the Seventy, preach a king- 
dom at hand. In Acts we see Christ reigning, and men and 
women entering his church or kingdom. 

(2) Throughout the Gospels the message and the field 
were restricted. The apostles were not authorized to preach 

151 



152 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

the death, resurrection or Messiahship of Jesus, or forgive- 
ness in his name, nor to go beyond Palestine. In Acts we 
see them in all lands, preaching Christ in the fullness of his 
redemptive work, and offering remission of sins in his name. 

(3) In the Gospels Christ promises the Holy Spirit as the 
result of his ascension and glorification. In Acts we see the 
Spirit come in illuminating and sanctifying power, and 
thousands smitten with the sword of the Spirit. The Book 
of Acts has appropriately been termed the " Gospel of the 
Holy Spirit." 

3. Periods of Apostolic History. — Confining ourselves for 
the present to the Book of Acts, we divide the history into 
the following Periods : 

(i) The Founding and Growth of the Church in Jeru- 
salem (A. D. 30-35). 

(2) The Extension of the Church Throughout Judea and 
Samaria, and Transition to the Gentiles (A. D. 35-45)- 

(3) Paul's Missionary Tours Among the Gentiles (A. D. 

45-58). 

(4) Paul's Four Years' Imprisonment (A. D. 58-63). 



CHAPTER I. 

THE FOUNDING AND GROWTH OF THE CHURCH IN JERU- 
SALEM, A. D. 30-35. ACTS I. — VII. 

I. FOUNDING OF THE CHURCH. 

(AC'IS I., II.) 

1. Nucleus of the Church; The Eight Days of Waiting.— The 

number of disciples residing or remaining in Jerusalem after 
the ascension was one hundred and twenty. Including 
those in Galilee there were over five hundred, at least (T. 
Cor. XV. 6). The one hundred and twenty continued in 
prayer while waiting in daily expectation of the promised 
Spirit. During the days of waiting, upon the suggestion of 
Peter, the vacancy in the apostolate, caused by the suicide of 
Judas, was filled by the election of Matthias ; an essential 
qualification of an apostle being the personal knowledge 
which should enable him to testify to the resurrection of 
Christ (Acts i. 21, 22 ; I. Cor. ix. i). 

2. The Baptism of the Holy Spirit. — a. Time and Accom- 
paniments. — Christ had suffered at the Passover : the Spirit 
came fifty days later at Pentecost, the second of the great 
feasts. It came with accompaniments appealing to eye and 
ear — a sound like a mighty wind, though not wind; flame- 
like tongues, though not flame. 

b. Its Ejects on the Disciples. — Its effects on the Twelve 
were instant, powerful, transforming; "They were all filled 
with the Holy Spirit, and began to speak with other tongues 
as the Spirit gave them utterance." But supernatural 

153 



154 ^iV OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

insight and power were not the only effects. They were 
morally transformed. Henceforth there are no carnal con- 
ceptions of the kingdom, no unseemly strifes over the chief 
places in it. 

c. lis Evidential Value. — Jesus had connected the coming 
of the Comforter with his return to the Father (Jno. xv. 26, 
27; xvi. 7; cf. vii. 39; Acts ii. 33). Pentecost was heaven's 
answer to earth's rejection of her Lord; a public notification 
that the crown of thorns had been exchanged for a crown of 
glory; the crowning proof of the nation's sin and Jesus' 
Messiahship. 

d. Effects on the Multitude. — To the wondering thou- 
sands who instantly gathered around the apostles, the bap- 
tism of the Spirit came with convicting, converting power ; 
indirectly, indeed, yet effectively, through the gospel as it 
fell from Peter's lips. 

3. Peter's Sermon; Results. — Peter is the spokesman ; his 
hearers, Jews, born in a score of different lands. After an 
introduction fitted to allay prejudice, he goes on to prove 
that Jesus is the Christ (i) by his well-known works; (2) by 
his death, which was a plan of God unconsciously executed 
by wicked men; (3) by his resurrection, foretold by prophets 
and attested by the apostles ; (4) by his exaltation at the 
right hand of the Father, predicted by prophets and con- 
firmed by the Pentecostal miracle. 

The results were (i) a pungent conviction; "they were 
pricked in their heart "; (2) a pointed question ; " What shall 
we do?" (3) a plain answer; "Repent — and be baptized — 
every one of j'ou — in the name of Jesus Christ — for the 
remission of sins — and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy 
Spirit"; (4) an instant obedience; "Then they that gladly 
received the word were baptized, and the same day there were 
added unto them about three thousand souls "; (5) steadfast 
continuance " in the apostle's teaching, and fellowship, in 
breaking of bread and in the prayers." 

Well may Pentecost be called " the birthday of the 
church." 




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THE cjiURCH m Jerusalem. 156 

II. GROWTH OF THE CHURCH IN JERUSALEM. 
(acts iii.-vii.) 

1. The First Jewish Persecution. — Soon after Pentecost, 
Peter and John healed a lame man at the gate of the temple. 
The vast crowd that gathered gave Peter an opportunity to 
follow up the work of Pentecost. His discourse was inter- 
rupted by the Sadducees, to whom the preaching of the 
resurrection was especially obnoxious ; the two apostles were 
imprisoned. The effect of Peter's discourse, however, was 
to increase the number of the disciples to five thousand. 
The next day Peter and John were brought before the San- 
hedrin, which was largely composed of Sadducees, and ques- 
tioned as to the power by which had they done the miracle. 
They boldly owned that it was by the power of Jesus, and 
as boldly declared to their judges that there was salvation 
in no other name. The authorities could not deny the mir- 
acle, and, contenting themselves with threats, let the apos- 
tles go. 

2. Dangers from Within; Ananias and Sapphira. — The 
Jerusalem church furnishes an example of Christian com- 
munism (ii. 44, 45 ; iv. 34-37). It was not compulsory (v. 3, 
4), but wholly spontaneous. It was neither universal nor 
permanent; in form it belonged to the Jerusalem church 
alone, though in spirit it characterized the entire apostolic 
church. Ananias and Sapphira took advantage of this com- 
munity of goods to turn part of their possessions over to the 
apostles and live at public expense ; a cheap way of gaining 
both a livelihood and a reputation for generosity. Their 
prompt exposure by Peter, and their instantaneous death at 
his feet, filled the whole church with awe. It stands at the 
very threshold of the new community as a monument 
against unreality in religion. It is a noteworthy fact that 
the first death among the Twelve was that of a traitor and 
suicide, and the first deaths in the apostolic church were 
those of hypocrites and liars. 



156 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

3. The Second Jewish Persecution.— The effect of the 
judgment on Ananias and vSapphira, as of all righteous dis- 
cipline, was to increase the power of the gospel. The San- 
hedrin, alarmed and indignant, threw all the apostles into 
prison. God had further work for them; and his angel 
opened the prison door and sent them back to the temple to 
preach the gospel. Perplexed by their mysterious escape, 
the rulers brought them before the council. The apostles 
declared their purpose to obey God rather than men ; and 
the Sanhedrin were restrained from violent measures only by 
the counsel of Gamaliel : " If this counsel be of men it will 
come to naught ; if it be of God ye can not overthrow it." 
Gamaliel was a Pharisee, the teacher of Paul (Acts xxii. 3). 
The Pharisees seem to have taken no active part in these 
earlier persecutions. 

4. First Division of Labor. — The church quickly became 
cosmopolitan. Peter's varied audience on Pentecost (ii. 
8-1 1) soon came to have its counterpart in the church. 
Those people of Jewish blood, born in lands outside Pales- 
tine, were called Hellenists, or " Grecian Jews." They often 
appear in Acts in contrast with '* Hebrews," or Palestinian 
Jews. A jealousy between the two classes became the occa- 
sion of the first division of labor. The organization of the 
church was an evolution. The apostles, at first, filled all 
offices. To allay the jealousy growing out of the daily dis- 
tribution of food, upon the recommendation of the apostles, 
the congregation chose seven men, all with Grecian names, 
to attend to the business. In this way the office of deacon 
arose. The apostles were thus able to give themselves 
wholly to prayer and the ministry of the Word. The good 
effect w^as seen in still larger victories for the gospel, many 
priests becoming obedient to the faith. 

5. The First Christian Martyr (vi. 8— vii. 60).— The church 
had chosen better than it knew. Stephen, one of the seven 
deacons, began by feeding Hellenistic widows ; it was not 
long before he was breaking in Hellenistic synagogues the 
bread of life. 



THE CHUR CH IN JER USA LEM. 157 

Up to this point the disciples would be regarded, 
even by Jews themselves, as a peculiar sect of Jews. No 
clear thought of widening the work to include the Gen- 
tiles had been entertained. But Stephen evidently began 
to look toward the abrogation of Judaism. This touched all 
Jews at a tender point. The Hellenists, beaten in argument, 
resorted to persecution. And now the Pharic^^es became 
active. In the second persecution, Gamaliel, tlie Pharisee, 
appears as the protector of Peter ; in the third, his pupil, 
Paul, as the persecutor of Stephen. And so it came to pass 
that Stephen, the most progressive spirit in the Jerusalem 
church, fell the first Christian martyr. In the spirit of his 
Master he dies with the prayer, *' Lord, la}^ not this sin to 
their charge." The church lost Stephen, but soon gained 
Paul ; and we may say with St. Augustine, — 

""Si Stephanus non or asset, 
Ecclesia Paulum non haberei.^' 

" If Stephen had not prayed, 

The church would not have had Paul." 



CHAPTER II. 

THE EXTENSION OF THE CHURCH THROUGHOUT JUDEA 

AND SAMARIA AND TRANSITION TO THE 

GENTILES, A. D. 35-45- 

(acts VIII. — XII.) 

1. Extension to Samaria (viii. 1-25). — The " beginning at 
Jerusalem" (Luke xxiv. 47) is fulfilled. It is time to follow 
the diverging geographical lines indicated in the last com- 
mission (Acts i. 8). But no move is made till compelled bj' 
the rage of men ; one more example of the intertwining of 
human plans with the divine. Stephen's death did not 
slake the thirst of his murderers. It was onlj' the taste of 
blood to the tiger. The previous persecutions had been 
tame. Now Pharisee and Sadducee, priest and people 
turned upon the infant church. The effect was not to 
quench the fires of the gospel, but to kindle them in new 
centers. The apostles, only, remained in Jerusalem. The 
scattered disciples became so many evangelists, preaching 
throughout Judea and Samaiia. The labors of one, onh*. are 
related. Philip, one of the seven deacons, carried the gospel 
to Samaria. For six hundred years the Samaritans had been 
preserved as a distinct people. There was a providence in it. 
They were neither Jew nor Gentile, but a half-waj' house 
from one to the other. Miraculous demonstrations of an 
almost Pentecostal character attended Philip's work; and 
in the region where a nameless woman and many jf her 
townsmen had believed Jesus, multitudes now joyfully 

15b 



EXTENSION OF THE CHURCH. 159 

accepted the completed gospel proclaimed by a disciple of 
Jesus. Simon, a notorious sorcerer, was among the con- 
verts. Philip could preach the gospel and work miracles, 
but he could not bestow on others the supernatural endow- 
ments of the Spirit. That power belonged only to apostles. 
The new departure of preaching to Samaritans was of suffi- 
cient importance to require a visit from the apostles. Peter 
and John went down, seemed satisfied with the work, and 
laid hands on the converts that they might receive the Spirit. 
Sorcerer Simon's old passion for power came back, and he 
offered Peter money for the power to besi^ow the Holy Spirit, 
and received the sharp rebuke of the apostle for his sins. 
To this 'day the purchase of ecclesiastical offices continues 
to be called after Simon, simony. 

2. Conversion of the Eunuch (viii. 26-40).— The treasurer 
of Queen Candace, of Ethiopia, is on his way home from a 
religious pilgrimage to Jerusalem. Philip is sent of God in 
the direction of Gaza. Their paths meet. The officer is 
reading from Isaiah the prophet, and invites Philip to ride 
with him and explain the prophecy. Philip preaches Jesus 
to him. As the result the eunuch demands baptism. The 
chariot halts, both go down into a wa3\side pool, and Philip 
baptizes the convert, who goes on rejoicing in his new-found 
faith. It is possible he was a Gentile. If so, this was a 
private transition to the Gentile world, and attracted no 
attention at Jerusalem because it occurred in an uninhabited 
region, involved no social relations, and may not even have 
been known at the time at Jerusalem. More probabh^ he 
was a Grecian Jew, many of whom, like Nehemiah, held 
high office in Gentile lands. Philip passed on to Caesarea, 
where we shall meet him again after many years. 

3. Conversion and Early Labors of Saul (ix. 1-30). — The 
conversion of Saul was the most vital event in the history of 
Christianity after Pentecost. Three times is the story told 
us: by Luke (Acts ix.); by Paul himself to the Jewish mob 
(Acts xxii.), and by Paul again before Agrippa (Acts xxvi.). 
Far more than any other apostle, Paul left his impress on 



160 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

the early church. Including Lukc'o Gospel and the Acts, 
both probably composed under the inspiration and direction 
of Paul, more than one-half of the New Testament was of 
Pauline origin. 

We left Saul at Jerusalem at the outbreak of the third 
persecution. He was the soul of it. Whatever he did he 
did with his might. God let him work so long as his work 
was serving to send the gospel to other centers; but the 
moment he sought to carry his fierce intolerance to distant 
Damascus, God laid hands on him. Jesus appeared in per- 
son to make of him a minister and a witness (xxvi. i6), i. e., 
an apostle ; sent him on, blinded, to Damascus, where, after 
three daj-s of fasting and prayer, he was further instructed 
and baptized by a disciple named Ananias. Combining the 
account in the first chapter of Galatians with that in the 
ninth of Acts, we learn that he immediately began preach- 
ing at Damascus; went for three years to Arabia; returned 
to Damascus only to face such a storm of persecution as he 
himself had formerly raised; escaped to Jerusalem, where he 
was introduced to the distrustful disciples by Barnaba-s ; 
preached boldly in Jerusalem till a plot of the Jews and avis- 
ion from (Tod (xxii. 17-21) sent him to his native Tarsus. 
Wherever he was Paul must have been a worker ; but for 
some years a veil of obscurity rests on his labors. 

4. Transition to the Gentiles.— A. Through Peter ; Cox- 
VEFSION OF Cornelius (x.)- — We come now to a new turn- 
ing point in our story. The church is to burst the Jewish 
swaddling bands of its infancy. The gulf between Jew and 
Gentile was wider and deeper than that between Jew and 
Samaritan. But it was bridged. God usually prepares for 
great epochs by silently preparing hearts for each other and 
for the event. It was so here. 

a. Preparation of Cornelius. — At Csesarea, the political 
capital of Palestine, there was stationed a Roman centurion 
named Cornelius. Though an uncircumcized Gentile, he 
was a believer in God ; devout, upright, benevolent. A vis- 
ion of God directed him to send down the sea coast to Joppa 



EXTEXSION OF THE CHURCIL 161 

for Simon Peter, who should instruct him in the way of 
salvation. 

b. Preparation of Peter. — We left Peter returning from 
Samaria to Jerusalem. We find him later at Lydda, where he 
heals ^neas. Thence, on the death of Dorcas, he was called 
to Joppa. Here he brought back Dorcas to life; and here 
Cornelius' messengers found him. But Peter, too, must be 
prepared for the event. A vision from heaven taught him 
not to call any man common or unclean, and the Spirit bade 
him go to Cornelius. Cornelius had gathered his house- 
hold and friends. Peter preached to them, and received 
them, through baptism, into the church. 

c. The Case Defeiided. — To strict Jewish Christians at 
Jerusalem it was a startling event. To enter into religious 
and social relations with an entire household of uncircum- 
cised Gentiles was to violate every canon of propriety, and, 
on his return to Jerusalem, Peter was called to account for 
it. But God had supplied him with an answer. Contrary to 
the usual order, the Spirit, in its supernatural endowments, 
had fallen on the household of Cornelius prior to baptism, 
as the divine warrant for receiving them. It was the " Gen- 
tile Pentecost"; God's seal on the new departure, and, as 
such, joyfully recognized by the church. 

B. Through the Heli^Enists (xi. 19-30). — While these 
events were occurring, God was preparing his church for a far 
wider incursion into the Gentile world. The fugitives from 
Paul's persecution carried the gospel into Phoenicia, the island 
of Cyprus, and the city of Antioch. At first they preached 
to Jews only. But soon word came to Jerusalem that the 
Hellenists were breaking through all barriers of race, and 
preaching to Gentiles. Immediately they sent Barnabas, 
himself a Hellenist, to Antioch. 

a. A Neiv Leader and a New Center. — Barnabas not 
only gave the work his sanction, but set out to Tarsus for 
Saul. It will be remembered that it was Barnabas who 
introduced Saul to the disciples at Jerusalem; he may be 
called the "original discoverer ofPaul." At last the place is 



162 ^4 AT OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

found for the man and the man for the place. Antioch was 
the greatest center of population and culture in Asia ; Paul, 
the broadest, most forceful man in the church. From the 
moment of Paul's arrival in Antioch, Peter and Jerusalem 
fall into the background ; Paul and Antioch come to the 
front. A new centet and a new leader have been developed, 
both better fitted for the work of world-wide evangelization 
than Jerusalem and the leaders there. 

b. The New Name. — It is significantly stated that " the 
disciples were called Christians first at Antioch." The name 
could hardly have originated at Jerusalem. There the dis- 
ciples were all Jews, scarcely distinguishable by Gentiles 
from other Jews. In Antioch the body of disciples was 
drawn from the heathen population. They differed radically 
from both Jew and heathen. The name was both necessary 
and appropriate. 

5. Fourth Jewish Persecution. — Before following the 
thread of Paul's missionary tour, lyuke gives us one more 
glimpse of affairs at Jerusalem. Herod Agrippa T., grandson 
of that Herod who murdered the babes of Bethlehem, and 
nephew of that Herod who beheaded John the Baptist, true 
to the Herodian traditions, began a bloody persecution. The 
Apostle James found in martyrdom his baptism of suffering 
(Matt. XX. 22). Peter was waiting in prison a like fate when, 
through the prayers of the church and the ministration of 
God's angel, he was released and saved for many more years 
of labor. Herod died (A. D. 44) of a loathsome disease; 
♦• but the Word of God grew and multiplied." 



CHAPTER III. 

Paul's missionary tours among the gentiles, a. d. 
45-58. acts xiii. —xxi. 26. 

I. THE FIRST TOUR. 
(acts XIII., XIV.; 

1. The Missionary Impulse.— For a year Barnabas and 
Saul had worked together at Antioch. The church had 
grown greatl}^ in numbers, and, what is far more important, 
in vSpiritualjty. Its liberality had been shown by sending 
Barnabas and Saul to Jerusalem with a contribution for their 
needy Jewish brethren (xi. 27-30). It was rich in teachers 
(xiii. i), of whom Barnabas is named first and Saul last. The 
work of a wider evangelization seems to have been on their 
hearts; for "as they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the 
Holy Spirit said, ' Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the 
work whereunto I have called them.'" Jerusalem became 
a missionary center by the exterior force of persecution ; 
Antioch by the interior impuloc of the Holy Spirit. 

2. The Visit to Cyprus. — The first field chosen was Cyprus, 

in sight from the main land, and the native land of Barnabas. 

John Mark, who had returned with them from Jerusalem 

(xii. 25), accompanied the missionaries. Preaching in 

Salamis, the old Greek capital, at the east end of the island, 

they passed on to Paphos, the Roman capital, at the west 

end. Here the Roman Governor, Sergius Paulus, became a 

believer. His conversion was withstood by a Jewish sorcerer 

named Bar-jesus. In this crisis Saul takes the lead. 

163 



164 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

Conscious of divine inspiration and apostolic power, he turned 
upon the impostor with a withering rebuke, and announced 
an instant blindness as the divine judg^ment upon his hypo- 
crisy. From this hour Saul is called Paul, and becomes the 
acknowledged leader. 

3. The Tour in Asia Minor. — The missionaries next turned 
their faces in the direction of Asia Minor. For several years 
Paul had been in his native province of Cilicia. The prov- 
inces now visited lay to the north and west of Cilicia. At 
the port of Perga, John Mark abandoned the work, and re- 
turned to Jerusalem. Paul and Barnabas pressed on through 
the rugged mountain districts, beset by " perils of rivers and 
perils of robbers, perils from their own countrymen and 
perils from the heathen " (II. Cor. xi. 26). They visited 
successively Antioch in Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe, 
and returned by the reverse route. At Antioch, Paul 
preached in the synagogue his first detailed sermon. Re- 
jected by the body of the Jews, he turned to the Gentiles. 
" To the Jew first and also to the Greek" (Rom. i. 16), — such 
was everywhere the order. Everywhere their work was 
rich in conversions and in sufferings. At I^ystra, where 
Paul healed a lame man, they were first worshiped as gods 
by the superstitious heathen, and then, under the instiga- 
tion of Jews from Iconium, Paul was stoned and left for dead. 
Returning to Antioch elated with joy, like discoverers at the 
finding of a new world, they reported to the church which 
had sent them forth. 

II. THE SECOND TOUR. 

(ACTS XVI. XVIII. 22.) 

1. The Interval; The Council at Jerusalem. — New condi- 
tions give rise to new questions. The church is rapidly out- 
growing its Jewish stage. But Jewish Christians were slow 
to rise to the sublime universality of the gospel. The ques- 
tion of receiving Gentiles to baptism and the church had 
been settled by the case of Cornelius. But ought they not 



PAUL'S MISSIONARY TOURS. l65 

to be circumcised and become Jews ? Was not Christianity 
simply a new and revised edition of Judaism? So some 
contended who came to Antioch from Jerusalem. The ques- 
tion was a grave one ; it threatened the peace of the church 
at Antioch, and vitally concerned the future labors of the 
missionaries. Paul and Barnabas were therefore sent to 
Jerusalem with the question. At a council, presided over by 
James, and participated in by Peter and Paul and Barnabas, 
the question was decided in favor of liberty. Had it been 
decided otherwise, Christianity might have perished in its 
cradle. 

2. The Quarrel Between Paul and Barnabas. — Shortly after 
the council, Paul proposed to Barnabas that they revisit the 
churches they had planted. Barnabas wished to take his 
nephew, Mark (Col. iv. lo), again; but Paul distrusted him 
because of his previous desertion. The contention was so 
sharp that Paul and Barnabas separated. It is pleasant to 
know that Mark was afterward restored to Paul's confidence 
(II. Tim. iv. II). 

3. Second Visit to Asia Minor. — On the return of Paul and 
Barnabas from the council, Silas had accompanied them. 
Paul chose him as his traveling companion, and going over- 
land through Syria and Cilicia, made his proposed visit to 
the churches. At Lystra he found a young disciple named 
Timothy. His father was a Greek ; but he had been relig- 
iously reared by his Jewish mother, Eunice, and his grand- 
mother, Lois (II. Tim. i. 5). He was doubtless a convert of 
Paul's on his first tour, and a witness of his sufferings at 
Lystra. One of the most beautiful traits in Paul's character 
was the power of attaching young men strongly to his own 
life of self-denying toil ; and Timothy became from this time 
one of Paul's most intimate co-workers. 

But Paul had larger plans than the revisiting of churches 
already planted ; and so he pushed on to new conquests in * 
Phrygia and Galatia. And God had still larger plans for 
him than his own ; for, hedging him in, right and left, he led 
him on to Troas, There he had a vision, a man of Macedonia 



166 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

saying, " Come over and help us''' That was a pregnant 
hour when Paul stood at Troas. Behind him lay Asia, 
with its mighty Past ; before him Europe ; along its southern 
edge Rome, the embodiment of an all-powerful Present; 
while stretching away to the north and west swarmed the 
barbarians who had in their loins the yet mightier Future. 
" Turn your guns on Europe. Conquer the Future." 

4. The Gospel Ptanted in Europe ; The Beginning at Philippi. 
— At Troas, Paul was joined by lyuke, as shown by the tell- 
tale "we." Sailing to Neapolis, the miSvSionaries pushed on 
to Philippi, the chief city of the district. Philippi was a 
military, not a mercantile, city, and therefore contained few 
Jews and no synagogue. But there was a Saturday prayer- 
meeting of women by the river-side, which Paul attended. 
In that river-side prayer-meeting Christianity began its 
regenerating work in Europe, and a merchant woman named 
Lydia was its first fruits. The missionaries soon had an 
unwelcome advertisement in the street cries of a demoniac 
slave girl. For casting the demon out of the girl, and de- 
stroying her masters' gain, Paul and Silas were scourged 
and imprisoned on the charge of introducing unlawful cus- 
toms. Their songs in the night, and an earthquake which 
swung wide the prison doors, brought the heathen jailer to 
his knees before them ; and before the morning light he and 
all his household were baptized believers rejoicing in God. 

5. From Philippi to Athens.— lycaving Luke and, perhaps, 
Timothy, to care for the infant church, they journeyed wCvSt- 
ward over the Via Egnatia, the great military road that 
connected the Black Sea and the Adriatic. Passing Amphi- 
polis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, the metrop- 
olis of Macedonia. Here Paul, *' as his manner was," 
preached Christ in the synagogue for several Sabbaths. A 
few Jews and a multitude of Greeks believed ; but the un- 
believing Jews, as their manner was, raised a storm of perse- 
cution before which the missionaries fled to Berea. More 
noble than the Thessalonians, the Berean Jews searched the 
Scriptures daily. Numerous converts, both Jews and Greeks, 



PAUVS MISSIONARY TOURS. 167 

were the result. With a persistence worthy of a better 
cause, the Thessalonian Jews followed Paul to Berea. Going 
down to the sea* Paul sailed for Athens. 

6. Paul at Athens. — Athens never played so conspicuous 
a part in Christian as in classical history. Yet it was a 
deeply interesting moment when the glories of ancient 
Athens were first confronted with the more spiritual glories 
of the cross. Paul had sent back word to Silas and Timothy 
to join him at Athens. Meanwhile his soul was stirred over 
the splendid idolatries around him, and he sent forth the 
new faith in the Jewish synagogue and in the Agora, or pub- 
lic meeting place of the city. The curiosity of certain phil- 
osophers was excited, and they conducted Paul to the 
Areopagas, where sat the most venerable and learned court 
of Athens. On that spot, so rich in historical associations, 
Paul delivered one of his masterly addresses, the second that 
has come down to us. There are striking contrasts between 
t'.ie first (xiii. 16-41), preached in the synagogue of Antioch 
to an audience of Jews proud of their national history and 
sublime prophecies, and this second, delivered on the Areo- 
pagus of Athens to polished Greeks in the presence of the 
most wondrous art of all time. But though the argument 
and line of approach differ, the end is the same — to preach 
Christ and him crucified, Christ and the resurrection. But 
the cultured Athenians were as wedded to their philosophies 
as the Jews to their traditions. A few, however, were won 
to Christ, among whom were Dionysius, one of the judges of 
the Areopagus, and a woman named Damaris. From a com- 
parison of Acts xvii. 15, 16 and I. Thess. iii. i, it is clear that 
Timothy rejoined Paul at Athens, and was sent back by him 
to Thessalonica, Athens was one of the few cities in which 
Paul did not suffer persecution ; but it was an unfruitful field, 
and he soon left it for Corinth. 

7. Paul's Long Sojourn at Corinth. — In Paul's time Athens 
M-as the Boston, Corinth the New York, of Greece. Into 
this great commercial metropolis Paul entered with fear and 
trembling (I. Cor. ii. 3). He was weighed down with his 



168 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORV. 

comparative failure in Athens. He was penniless and alone. 
He was obliged to resort to his trade of tent-making to sup- 
ply his daily bread. But Paul was never long in finding or 
making friends. He soon discovered congenial spirits in 
his fellow tradesmen, Aquila and Priscilla, who soon became 
disciples, if they were not already such. Working with them 
through the week, he preached on Sabbaths in the syna- 
gogue. On the arrival of Silas and Timothy, with contribu- 
tions from Philippi, his hands were freed, and for a year 
and a half he gave himself wholly with great power to the 
work {cf. xviii. 5, 9, 10; Phil. iv. 15). Soon after the arrival 
of Timothy he wrote his first Epistle to the Thessalonians 
.(I. Thess. iii. 6), and some time later the second Kpistle. 
These are the earliest of Paul's Kpistles that have come down 
to us. 

8. The Return to Antioch. — Crossing the Isthmus of 
Corinth to Cenchrea with Aquila and Priscilla, Paul sailed 
to Kphesus. Here his preaching in the synagogue so capti- 
vated his hearers that they desired him to remain ; but, with 
a pomise to return, he hastened on to Csesarea, and thence 
to Antioch. So ends Paul's second and wider tour. The 
interest is shifting to' Europe, and will center at last in 
Rome. 

III. THE THIRD TOUR. 

(acts xviii. 23 — XXI. 26.) 

1. Paul's Three Years at Ephesus. — After some time spent 
in Antioch, Paul bade a final farewell to the great missionary 
church. His next point of attack was Ephesus. This was 
the center of interest on the third tour. It was well chosen ; 
for what Antioch was to Syria, Corinth to Greece, and Rome 
to Italy and the west, that Ephesus was to the busy life of 
western Asia Minor. On his way to Ephesus, Paul made a 
rapid tour over his former track through Galatia and 
Phrygia. It will be remembered that on his return voyage 
from Corinth to Antioch he had touched at Ephesus long 
enough to feel the public pulse, and had left Aquila and 



PAUDS MISSIONARY TOURS. 169 

Priscilla there. In his absence the work of preparation 
was going on. An eloquent Jew from Alexandria named 
Apollos had arrived at Ephesus, preaching with great power 
the baptism of John. Aquila and Priscilla instructed him 
more perfectly in the gospel. Apollos then crossed over to 
Corinth, and carried forward the work which Paul had so 
successfully begun there {cf. Acts xviii. 2'] ; I, Cor. iii. 4-7). 
For three months after his arrival at Ephesus Paul preached 
in the synagogue. He was compelled at last to break with 
the Jews, and to form the Christians into a separate commu- 
nity. For two years he preached daily in the school of 
Tyrannus, reaching multitudes of Jews and Greeks from all 
parts of the province of Asia. So great was the effect of 
Paul's preaching that the trade in silver shrines of the 
goddess Diana fell off. A mob of silversmiths put Paul in 
peril of his life. During Paul's long sojourn at Ephesus he 
probably visited Corinth (II. Cor. xii. 14; xiii. i). He also 
wrote the first Epistle to the Corinthians {cf. I. Cor. xvi. 
5-9; Acts xix. 20, 21; XX. i). They had also written him 
a letter (I. Cor. vii. i), and he had written one to them 
(I. Cor. V. 9), neither of which has come down to us. 

2. The Second Tour in Macedonia' and Achaia. — Crossing 
the ^gean once more, Paul made a second European tour, of 
which we have few details. From a comparison of II. Cor. 
i. 8-10 and ii. 12, 13 with Acts xx. 2, it is clear that the 
second Epistle to the Corinthians was written at some point 
on this journey through Macedonia. Reaching Corinth he 
remained there three months. During that time he wrote 
the Epistle to the Romans {cf. Rom. xv. 25, 26\ Acts xx. 3, 
4; xxiv. 17), probably sending it by Phoebe of Cenchrea 
(xvi. i). At some point on this third tour he also wrote the 
Epistle to the Galatians ; probably either at Corinth or earl- 
ier at Ephesus. 

3. The Collection. — Paul longed to see the middle wall of 
partition between Jew and Gentile broken down. It was an 
end that lay near his heart. To it he gave his great life. 
One means he employed was a collection, which he took on 



170 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

this tour among the Gentiles, for the poor Jewish brethren 
at Jerusalem. Besides several shorter passages, the entire 
eight and ninth chapters of second Corinthians relate to it. 
It was taken in Galatia, Macedonia and Achaia {cf. I. Cor. 
xvi. 1-3; Gal. ii. 10; Rom. xv. 25, 26; Acts xxiv. 17); on the 
first day of the week (I. Cor. xvi. i); and in addition to his 
appeals in person or by letter, he employed Titus and others 
to collect and forward the fund (II. Cor. viii. 6, 18, 23; I. Cor. 
xvi. 3). 

4. The Return Voyage. — Paul purposed to sail from Cor- 
inth directly to Syria; but some unexplained plot of the 
Jews led him to take a roundabout route through Macedonia. 
A goodly company of friends, old and new, joined him in 
Macedonia (Acts xx. 4-6), among whom were Timothy and 
Ivuke. The latter had probably remained at Philippi since 
the first visit there (compare the use of " they" and " we " 
in Acts xvi. 10, 13, 40; xx. 6). The company spent a week 
at Troas, and met with the disciples who came together on 
the first day of the week to break bread (Acts xx. 7). This 
passage is important as showing (i) the day the disciples 
kept ; (2) the manner of keeping it. It was here that Paul 
restored Eutychus, who fell from the window while Paul 
was speaking. Hastening on to reach Jerusalem by Pente- 
cost, Paul did not stop at Ephesus, but met the elders of the 
Ephesian church at Miletus, where he delivered to them one 
of the most beautiful of all his addresses. It is an interest- 
ing illustration of the rapid spread of the gospel, that wher- 
ever they touched they found disciples : Troas, Miletus, Tyre, 
Ptolemais and Caesarea, where the sea voyage ended. Here 
we meet our old friend Philip {cf. Acts viii. 40), who had 
four daughters who were inspired teachers. Both at Tyre 
and Caesarea, Paul was warned of the dangers awaiting him 
at Jerusalem ; but nothing could swerve him from his pur- 
pose to carry to Jerusalem the peace offering from Gentiles 
to Jews, that for four years he had been collecting. 

5. Paul's Reception at Jerusalem.— It is now a score of 
years since Paul's conversion. For a dozen years he has 



PAUL'S MISSIONARY TOURS, 171. 

been busy planting the gospel in the great Gentile centers. 
Twice or thrice he has paid hasty visits to Jerusalem. A 
dozen years more and Titus will be battering down her walls. 
Once more Paul comes ; this time with a double offer — the 
alms of Gentile Christians and the gospel of God's grace, 
which has inspired the gift. How will they receive him .? 
The leaders of the Jerusalem church, under James, gave him 
a cordial welcome. But he has been slandered there as 
everywhere. To allay prejudice he yields to the advice of 
James, and observes certain ceremonies connected with a 
vow. Luke does not tell us how it succeeded with the church. 
It failed with the unbelieving Jews, and Paul is soon seized 
in the temple by such a mob as he himself had headed 
against Stephen. 



CHAPTER IV. 

Paul's four years' imprisonment, a. d. 58-63. acts 
xxi. 27 — xxviii. 31. 

I. HIS IMPRISONMENT AT JERUSALEM. 
(acts XXI. 27 — XXIII. 30.) 

The events of the next two years at Jerusalem and Cses- 
area may best be grouped under Paul's series of addresses. 

1. His Address to the Mob.— The mob would have made 
quick work with Paul ; but, as they were dragging him out 
of the temple, the chief captain, with several companies of 
soldiers, rescued him. Obtaining permission to speak to the 
mob, Paul addressed them in their own tongue. This 
speech on the stairs is the second detailed account of Paul's 
conversion {cf. Acts ix. 1-18). As was natural in speaking 
to Jews, he emphasized his Hebrew blood and education, 
his former zeal against Christians, the means by which he 
had become a disciple and an apostle of Jesus. They 
listened till he referred to his mission to the Gentiles, when 
the officer had to take him into the tower. Here Paul saved 
himself from scourging by an appeal to his Roman citizen- 
ship. 

2. His Address Before the Sanhedrin.— The next day, to 
learn the charges against Paul, the officer brought him 
before the Jewish council. Paul undertook to address the 
council ; but an order from the High Priest to smite him 
quickly convinced him that he could have little hope of a 
fair hearing. Planting himself on the great Pharisaic doc- 
trine of a resurrection, so hateful to the Sadducees, he won 

172 



PAULS FOUR YEARS' JMPRTSONMENT. 173 

some measure of favor from his own sect, the Pharisees. In- 
stantly the council fell into a fierce dispute. To save Paul 
from being pulled in pieces, the captain shut him up in the 
castle again. The next day a desperate plot to kill him was 
revealed by Paul's nephew, and the officer sent Paul off by 
night under a military escort to Csesarea. 

II. HIS IMPRISONMENT AT C7ESAREA. 
(acts xxiir. 31 — XXVI. 32.) 

1. His Defense Before Felix. — Paul's foes were not to be 
balked. Five days later the High Priest went down to 
Caesarea with a celebrated orator named Tertullus, to secure 
Paal's sentence from the governor. Tertullus opened the 
prosecution with flattery of Felix and abuse of Paul. With 
manly dignity Paul repelled the charge of sedition, but 
owned himself a believer in the resurrection. Felix, evi- 
dently convinced of Paul's innocence, but unwilling to offend 
the Jews, postponed the case. 

2. His Sermons Before Felix. — Felix had married Dru- 
silla, wife of Azizus, king of Emesa. She was a daughter of 
Herod Agrippa I., and a genuine Herod. To gratify her 
curiosity, Felix summoned Paul to preach before them. Al- 
though his own life was at stake, Paul turned his batteries 
upon Felix's conscience, and so reasoned before the guilty 
pair of temperance and righteousness and judgment to come, 
that Felix trembled before his prisoner. But he put him 
off, and sent for him often ; not to hear the gospel, but to 
win a bribe for Paul's release. 

3. His Defense Before Festus. — After two 3^ears Felix was 
summoned to Rome to answer for his misdeeds, and left 
Paul a prisoner. Festus succeeded him. The Jews renewed 
the prosecution of Paul, and clamored for his removal to 
Jerusalem. Paul denied their charges ; and to Festus' prop- 
osition to go to Jerusalem, which he well knew would be 
venturing into the lion's jaws, he replied, " I APP^AI, UNTO 
C^SAR." 



174 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

Festus an.swered, " To Caesar thou shalt go." 
Six months before, while at Corinth, Paul had formed the 
purpose of a still wider evangelization. His plan was to go 
to Rome and thence into Spain (Rom. xv. 23, 24). Once 
more the wickedness of men is cooperating with the pur- 
poses of God. Though not as he had expected, Paul is to go 
to Rome. 

4. His Address Before Agrippa. — Paul's case perplexed 
Festus. He was to be sent to Caesar, and yet the governor 
had no definite charge to prefer against his prisoner. The 
complaints of the Jews related to Jewish customs with which 
he was not familiar. Just at this time Herod Agrippa II. 
came to Caesarea to congratulate the new governor. Agrip- 
pa was living with his own sister, Bernice, who was as 
beautiful and brilliant and profligate as her sister Drusilla. 
Agrippa, as a Jew, felt and expressed an interest in the case, 
and Paul was called to speak before him. It was such an 
audience as he had never before addressed : a Roman gov- 
ernor; two of the viperous Herods, Agrippa and his sister- 
wife, Bernice; together with the principal army and civil 
officers of the Roman capital. Once more Paul rehearses 
the story of his persecution of Christians, and the facts con- 
nected with his conversion. He is aiming at the Jew, 
Agrippa. His central purpose is to show that the gospel is 
from God, and fulfills the Jewish scriptures. The heathen, 
Festus, bluntly interrupts Paul with the intimation that his 
earnestness is a touch of insanity. The polished Agrippa 
makes an ironical remark about becoming a Christian. The 
courteous Paul concludes with a beautiful wish; crowns 
and robes and pomp were little to him ; would that Agrippa, 
would that «// present, were such as he; then, looking at his 
manacled hands, he added, " except these bonds." These 
cold men of the world could resist the power of the gospel, 
but they could not but respect the evident manliness 
and innocence of Paul. Their decision was, " This man 
might have been set at liberty if he had not appealed unto 
Caesar." 



PAUDS FOUR YEARS' IMPRISONMENT, 175 



III. THE VOYAGE TO ROME. 
(acts XXVII. I — XXVIII. 15.) 

1. The Ship and the Company. — Paul sailed from Caesarea 
late in the summer of A. D. 60, in a coasting vessel of Ad- 
ramyttium. Two tried friends accompanied him. Luke 
seems to have remained vpith or near him ever since he left 
Philippi, two years before. It is probable that he wrote his 
gospel during Paul's imprisonment at Caesarea. Aristarchus 
was also with Paul as a fellow prisoner {cf. Acts xix. 29 ; xx. 
4; xxvii. 2; Col. iv. 10), though on what charge is not stated. 
Other prisoners were' also in the company, all in charge of 
the centurion, Julius. 

2. The Run to Myra. — Running along the Phoenician 
coast the ship touched at Sidon, where the centurion cour- 
teously allowed Paul to go ashore to refresh himself with 
friends. From Sidon a direct course to Adramyttium would 
have left Cyprus to the right; but owing to unfavorable winds 
they ran between Cyprus and the main land. At Myra, on the 
southwest coast of Asia Minor, they fell in with an Alex- 
andrian grain vessel bound for Rome, and reshipped for the 
Imperial City. 

3. The Great Storm. — Continuing along the coast slowly 
in the face of head winds as far as Cnidus, they turned 
abruptly to the south to gain the shelter of the long island 
of Crete. About midway on the western coast they ran into 
the harbor of Fair Havens. Owing to the lateness of the 
season Paul advised a postponement of the voyage ; but fol-' 
lowing the judgment of the ship-master, they sailed on, only 
to be caught by a fierce northeaster, which drove them help- 
lessly before it for fourteen days. All lost hope but Paul. 
A night vision from God assured him of the wreck and the 
rescue of the entire company. And so it came to pass at the 
island of Melita (Malta). Driven upon a shelving beach, the 
two hundred and seventy-six souls either swam to the shore 
or reached it on fragments of the wreck. 



176 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY, 

4, The Winter at JVIeiita. — The natives showed unusual 
kindness, building a fire for the chilled mariners. Paul, 
whose influence on shipboard became something remarkable 
for a prisoner, made himself useful on land. He was not 
above gathering fuel for the fire ; and he healed the father of 
Publius, the governor, and many more who were brought to 
him. Such were his services that, on the departure of Paul's 
company in the spring, the islanders loaded them with benefits. 

5. Completion of the Voyage. — Embarking in another 
Alexandrian grain ship, which had wintered in the island, 
they touched at the city of Syracuse and at Rhegium, and 
finally cast anchor at Puteoli, in the Bay of Naples. Puteoli 
was one of the western terminal points for the AJexandrian 
merchant ships, the other being Ostia, at the mouth of the 
Tiber. Here Paul found disciples, and from here he went 
over the " Queen of Roads," the Appian Way to Rome. The 
brethren at Rome quickl}^ heard of his coming, and came out 
to The Market of Appius and The Three Taverns to meet 
him. Prisoner though he was, Paul entered Rome in a tri- 
umphal procession. 

IV. THE TWO YEARS' IMPRISONMENT AT ROME. 
(acts XXVIII. 16-31.) 

1. Paul's Interview with the Jews. — Paul was called to be 
the apostle to the Gentiles. Yet his first message was in- 
variably to his Jewish brethren. He therefore sent at once 
for the leading Jews, of whom there must have been thou- 
sands in the city. At a second meeting, from morning till 
night, he set forth the things of the kingdom of God. The 
result was, as elsewhere, that some believed, while the ma- 
jority rejected Christ; and, as elsewheie, Paul turned to the 
Gentiles. 

2. Paul's Epistle from Rome.— During this first Roman 
imprisonment, Paul wrote at least four Epistles, viz.: 

a. Ephesians, Colossians and Philemon. — The evidence for 
this is (i) Ephesians and Colossians were carried by Tychicus 



PAUL'S FOUR YEARS' IMPRISONMENT. 177 



(Eph. vi. 21, 22 ; Col. iv. 7. 8). (2) Philemon was carried by 
Onesimus (Philem. 10-12). (3) The two traveled together 
(Col. iv. 7-9). (4) Paul was a prisoner (Eph. iii. i). (5) 
His only long imprisonments were at Caesarea and Rome, 
Then he was going to Rome; now he hopes to be released 
and to visit Philemon (Philem. 22). 

d. Philippians. — His allusion to the Praetorian Guard 
shows that he wrote from Rome (i. 13). 

c. The Epistle to the Hedrews.—ThQ authorship of He- 
brews is in doubt. If it is by Paul, it was probably written 
at this period. 

3. Paul's Evangelistic Labors at Rome.— Paul was not 
kept in close confinement at Rome. He dwelt in his own 
hired house, and received all who came to him. Yet, day 
and night, he was chained to a soldier. But chains did not 
quench his Christ-like solicitude for souls. The Epistles of 
this period abound in allusions to fruitful labors. His bonds 
fell out for the furtherance of the gospel (Phil. i. 12); con- 
verts were won in Caesar's household (Phil. iv. 22), and 
even among the soldiers of the famous Praetorian Guard 
(Phil. i. 13), large numbers of whom must, in turn, have been 
chained to the prisoner. We also catch glimpses of a de- 
voted band of congenial workers who gather around hin, 
and through whom he multiplies himself many fold. Among 
them are Timothy and Luke and Aristarchus and Epaphras, 
and even Mark, who in earlier days " went not to the work." 
And here Luke's story suddenly breaks off, leaving Paul 
planting* the gospel on broader and firmer foundations in 
the world's great capital, whence it may radiate to the remot- 
est parts of the Empire. 



CHAPTER V. 

LATER APOSTOLIC HISTORY. 
I. PAUL'S LATER HISTORY. 

1. His Release; Subsequent History. — That Paul was re., 
leased from his first Roman imprisonment is implied in his 
confident expectation of it (Phil. i. 25, 26 ; ii. 24 ; Philera. 
22), and confirmed by allusions to incidents and journeys 
that do not fit into his earlier history, and by universal tra- 
dition. 

We gather from I. Timothy and Titus that he visited 
Bphesus again, made a tour in Crete, and another visit to 
Macedonia and Greece. During this time he wrote the first 
Epistle to Timothy and the Epistle to Titus. 

2. His Last Imprisonment and Martyrdom. — Paul had been 
released in A. D. 63. The great fire at Rome occurred the 
next year. To divert vSuspicion from himself, the Emperor 
Nero accused the Christians, and began the first imperial 
persecution. Paul, at a distance from Rome, continued his 
labors for a time ; but, at last, he was arrested and brought 
back to Rome. It is very likely that he was charged with 
instigating the incendiarism. His second imprisonment 
was far severer than the first. From his prison, in expecta- 
tion of early martyrdom, he penned his last Epistle — the 
second to Timothy. That which most tried his great heart 
was the abvSence, in some cases the desertion, of old friends^ 
Luke remained with him to the last. The latest light that 
falls on the aged apOvStle from the Scriptures is from the 
closing chapterofvsecond Timothy; but, according to credible 

178 




35 Longitude T!. of Greeiiivii'li 36 



(Copyright 1880., 



The jiTaerican Sundwf Softool Vhion, I'hUxuLdfihujb. 

10 



LATER APOSTOLIC HISTORY. 179 

tradition, he was condemned and suffered martyrdom 
about A. D. 68. Paul's Roman citizenship would exempt 
him from the lingering death so often inflicted on Christians. 
He was probably beheaded outside the walls of Rome. So 
fell the great apostle to the Gentiles, whose life and writings 
are the richest legacy ever bequeathed by man to posterity. 

II. LATER HISTORY OF OTHER APOSTLES. 

1. Last Glimpse of Peter. — The latest reference in Acts to 
Peter is at the apostolic council (Acts xv. 7-1 1). Paul, in 
his Epistle to the Galatians, written half a dozen years later, 
refers to Peter's dissimulation at Antioch (Gal. ii. 9-14). 
The incident probably occurred soon after the council, and 
before Paul's second missionary tour. This is the last his- 
torical allusion tv^ Peter in the New Testament. But two of 
his Epistles have come down to us. The first is written 
from Babylon, where there was a Jewish colony, and is ad- 
dressed to the Christians of Asia Minor (I. Peter i. i; v. 13). 
From references to Silas and Mark, it is probable that it was 
written between Paul's first and second Roman imprison- 
ment. The second Epistle shows an acquaintance with 
Paul's Epistles (II. Peter iii. 15, 16) and Peter's expectation 
of martyrdom (II. Peter i. 13-15; cf. Jno. xxi. 18, 19). Ac- 
cording to early Christian writers, this expectation was real- 
ized at Rome soon after the death of Paul. Peter did not 
enjoy the rights of Roman citizenship, and suffered, there- 
fore, like his Master, on a cross. If tradition may be 
trusted, he begged, as one unworthy to suffer as his Master, 
to be crucified head downward. 

2. Later Life of John. — ^John very early drops out of the 
history of Acts. He is last mentioned in connection with 
Philip's work in Samaria (Acts viii. 14, 25). He is not 
named in Acts in connection with the council (Actsxv.); but 
Paul (Gal. ii. 9) refers to him in that connection. Although 
John does not figure prominently in the work of evangeliza- 
tion, his writings, next to Paul's, are the most important of 



180 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

any of the apostles'. The last Gospel, three Epistles and the 
Book of Revelation are from his pen. His later years were 
probably passed in Asia Minor, with Bphesus as the center 
of operations. He was banished for a year to the island of 
Patmos (Rev. i. 9), where he wrote the Book of Revelation. 
He lived till the reign of Trajan (A. D. 98-117), dying about 
the close of the century, the only apostle, perhaps, who did 
not seal his faith with his blood. 

3. The Other Apostles— Conclusion.— As we have already 
seen (Acts xii. i, 2) James, the brother of John, early fell a 
martyr. It is not certain that the New Testament relates 
anything further of \.he other apostles. Two^ Epistles re- 
main, James and Jude The identity of their authors is one 
of the unsettled questions. Tradition connects the differ- 
ent apostles with the evangelization of different lands, and 
relates the martyrdom of all but St. John. 

The obscurity resting on the last labors of all, even the 
greatest, of the apostles, is deeply significant. In Apostolic 
History the personal element is subordinate. A measure of 
interest gathers around men; but the supreme interest cen- 
ters in the W07'k in its ever-widening circles. In the Gospel 
History, on the contrary, the personal element predominates. 
The interest centers in 2l person. Christ himself is always 
greater than any word or work of his. No obscurity is suf- 
fered to rest upon his exit from earth. He is the keystone 
to the arch — not of the Gospels alone, nor of the New Testa- 
ment onl3^ but of the entire Bible story. Without him the 
whole fabric would fall into hopeless ruin; with him it 
stands in matchless and enduring beauty. 



MODERN JERUSALEM 

The divisions ofJndaiZ Jtrusalan are 
distin^uisfwd hy colours and nxinwAin. IL] hi Letters 

Scale _ English. Teet 
100 SCO looo 




^Zl 



' Copyrighx. I880 



The vlrnerican, Sund/cf SdwoL IJruon, Philadelphia. 

' 12 



APPENDIX. 



SYNCHRONISTIC TABLES OF THE HEBREW 
KINGDOMS. 

The dates given are mainly those of Ussher. Recent historical 
criticism tends to lower the dates between Rehoboam and the fall of 
Samaria from forty to twenty years. From the fall of Samaria the 
dates of Ussher synchronize closely with the Assyrian tablets. The 
names of rulers are in small capitals ; those of prophets in italics. 



TABLE I.— THE DOUBLE KINGDOM. 



B. C. 


JUD^H. 


YRS 


B. C. 


ISRAEL. 


VKS. 


OTHER NATIONS. 




{One Dynasty.) 




{First Dynasty.) 






975 


Rehoboam. 

Sheniaiah. 

Ivasionof Shishak. 


17 


975 


JEROBOAM. 

Ahijah. 
Calf worship. 


22 


Shishak of Egypt. 


957 


Abijah. 
Defeats Jeroboam. 


3 










955 


Asa. 
Reforms. 


41 


954 


Nadab. 
{Second Dynasty"). 


2 






Defeats Zerah. 




953 


Baasha. 


24 


Zerah, Ethiopian 




Azariah. 






War with Asa. 




king of Egypt. 




Alliance with Syr- 






Jehu. 
Elah. 








ia vs. Israel. 




930 


2 






Hanani. 




929 


{Third Dynasty.) 

ZiMRI. 

{Fourth Dynasty.) 

Omri. 
Civil war with Tib- 

ni. 

Builds Samaria. 


7ds. 
12 


Ethbaal of Tyre 








918 


Ahab m. Jezebel. 


22 


and Sidon. 


9H 


Jehoshaphat. 
Reforms. 
Alliance with 

Ahab vs. Syria. 
Intermarriage of 

royal houses of 


25 




;Baal worship. 

Elijah. 

Wars with Syria. 

Micaiah. 

Ahab slain. 




Benhadad II. of 
Syria. 




Judah and Isra- 
el. 




897 


Ahaziah. 


2 





181 



182 



AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 



TABLE I. — THE DOUBLE KINGDOM, CONTINUED. 



B. C. 


JUDAH. 


YRS. 


B. C. 


ISRAEL. 


YRS. 


OTHER NATIONS. 










Elijah translated. 




Mesha of Moab. 








896 


Jehoram. 


12 


Moabite stone. 


892 


Associates Jehor- 
AM on throne. 

AlHance with Is- 
rael vs. Moab. 


8 




Elisha. 

Naaman cured. 

Samaria besieged 

by Benhadad. 




Benhadad 11. of 
Syria. 


8:9 


JehOram alone. 

Wife. Athaliah, 
daugh. of Ahab 
and Jezebel. 

Jerusalem plun- 
dered by Ara- 
bians, etc. 










Hazael murders 
and succeeds 
Benhadad. 


885 


Ahaziah. 


I 










884 


Slain by Jehu. 
Athaliah usurps 


6 


884 


Slain by Jehu. 
{Fifth Dynasty:) 








throne ; murders 






Jehu. 


28 


Shalmanfsi r 11. 




all princes but 
Joash. 






Destroys house of 




of Assjna. 








Ahab and Baal 








Baal Worship. 






worship. 






878 


Joash. 

Reforms under Je- 
hoiada, 

Death of Jehoiada. 
Idolatry again. 


40 




Reiurns to calf 

worship. 
Hazael gains land.= 

east of Jordan. 
Elisha. 




Black obelisk. 

Carthage founded 

(cir. B. C. 870,. 




Zechariah stoned. 




856 


Jehoahaz. 


17 






HazaelbesiegesJe- 






Elisha. 








ru<;alem ; bought 
off. 




841 


Jehoash. 


16 




839 


Amaziah. 
Defeats Edom. 
Adopts its gods. 


29 




Death of Elisha. 
Takes Jerusalem. 








Defeated by Isra- 




825 


Jekoboam II. 


41 






el. 






"Indian Summer" 
of Israel. 






810 


UZZIAH. 

Joel{?) 


52 




Jonah, Amos, 

Hosea. 

Interregnum (?) 


II 


istGreekolyn piad 
(B. C. 776). 




Prosperity. 




773 


Zachariah. 


6 ms. 






Sacrilege and lep- 






{Sixth Dynasty.') 








rosy. 


















772 


Shallum. 
{Stventh Dynasty) 

Mbnahem. 
Tributary to As- 
syria. 


I m. 
10 


Pul; first Assyr- 
ian king "amed 
in Bible. 








761 


Pekahiah. 


2 


Captures Damas- 




Isaiah. 






{Eighth Dynasty?) 




cus. 


758 


JOTHAM. 

Isaiah, Micah. 


16 


729 


Pekah. 
Alliance with Re- 


20 


Rezin cf Syna. 
753, Rome founded 


742 


Ahaz. 
Isaiah. 
Defeated by Isra- 
el and Syria. 


16 




zin vs. Judah. 




745, Tiglath-pil- 
ESER II. founds 
Second Empire 


740 


Alliance with As- 
syria. 
Worst idolatries. 




740 


Tributary to As- 
syria. 

Captivity of 2% 
tribes «ast of Jor- 




(Assyria). 

Destroys Syrian 
Kingdom (Da- 










dan. 




mascus). 



APPENDIX. 



183 



TABLE I. — THE DOUBLE KINGDOM, CONTINUED. 



B. C. 


JUDAH. 


YRS. 


B. C. 


ISRAEL. 


YRS. 


OTHER. NATIONS. 










Pekah slain by Ho- 














shea. 














Interregnum. 


9 












{Ninth Dynasty.) 












730 


HOSHEA. 

Vassal of Assyria. 


9 


Shalmaneser IV. 
of Assyria. 


726 


Hezekiah. 
Isaiah, Mica ft. 

Reforms. 
Great Passover. 


29 




Revolts. 
Samaria besieged 
by Shalmanezer. 








Revolts from As- 




722 


Samaria taken by 




Sargon of Assyr- 




syria. 






Sargon. End of 
Northern King- 
dom, 




ia conquers 
Egypt. 



TABLE II.— JUDAH ALONE. 



B.C. 


JUDAH. 


YRS. 


ASSYRIA and BABYLON. 


OTHER nations. 


713 


Hezekiah's illness 
and recovery. 

Embassy of Alero- 
dach-baladan. 




Sargon destroys Hittite Em- 
pire. 




















700 


Sennacherib's in- 
vasion : destruc- 
tion of his army. 


705 


Sennacherib of Assyria. 


TiRHAKA of 

Egypt 


698 


Manasseh. 
General apostasy. 
King a captive at 

Babylon 12 yrs. 
Repentance and 

return. 


55 


660, Assur-bani-pal of Assyria. 
Royal library at Nineveh. 




6,2 


Amon. 


2 






639 


JOSIAH. 

Great Reforms. 

Jeremiah. 

Huldah, Nahum, 


3^ 


Saracus, last Assyrian king. 
625, Nabo-polassnr, viceroy at 


Cyaxares of Me 
dia. 






Babylon, revolts ; founds 






Habikkuk, Zeph- 




Babylor^ian Empire. 






aniah. 








6d8 


Slain in war with 
Necho. 




606, Nabo-polassar and Cyaxer- 






Jehoahaz. 
Jehoiakim. 


3 ms. 


es take Nineveh ; end of As- 






II 


syrian Empire. 






Jeremiah prophe- 




Babylon. 






sies 70 yrs. cap- 




Nebuchadnezzar sent against 






tivity. 




Necho. 




.606 


First Babyloni- 
an Captivity 
Daniel, etc, 




Takes Jerusalem. 




597 


Jehoiachin. - 
Rebels. 
Second Captivi- 
ty; king, Ezeki- 
el and 10,000. 


3 ms. 


Besieges Tyre. 




■;o7 Z^nEKiAH. 


" 







1S4 



AN" OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY, 



TABLE II. — JUDAH ALONE, CONTINUED. 



B. C. 


JUDAH. 


VR.S. 


ASSYRIA AND BABYLON, 


OTHER NATIONS. 




Alliance with 
Egypt vs. Bab- 
ylon. 








S86 


Jerusalem taken, 
temple destroy- 
ed. 

Third Captivity. 












Judah in Babylon. 


558. Cyrus of Per- 




Gedaliah, gover- 






sia conquers Me- 




nor of remnant, 






dia. 




is slain. 










Remnant go to 










Egypt; take Jer 




538, Babylon falls before Cyrus 






emiah. 




the Great. 




536 


Jews emancipated 
by Cyrus. 









TABLE in.— POST-EXILE PERIOD. 



B. C. 


JUDAH. 


PERSIA. 


OTHER NATIONS. 


536 


First return under Ze- 
rubbabel. 






535 


Temple begun; work de- 
layed by Samaritans. 


Cambyses (529-522). 




520 


Haggai and Zechariah 
stir up people to re- 


Darius I. (522-487), 






sume. 




Battle of Marathon (490), 


515 


Temple completed. 










Xerxes (Ahasuerus) 


Battle of Salamis (480). 




Story of Esther. 


(486-466). 
Artaxerxes (466-424). 




458 


Second return under Ez- 






446 


Third return under Ne- 
hemiah. 




Herodotus. 


434 


Nehemiah's second gov- 
ernorship. 


Darius Ochus (425-405). 


Peloponnesian war. 



QUESTIONS FOR REVIEW. 

iMtroduction.— I. Why study Bible History? 2. How does Bible 
History differ from General History? 3. Name and define the three 
ages ? 4. Name and define the twelve periods of O. T. History. 

Antediluvian Pei'iod. — i. Define " Genesis," and give examples 
of its nse. 2. What the real problem in the genesis of the universe? 
Illustrate it. 3. Give the different solutions and the Bible solution. 
4. What was created on each of the six days ? 5. Of what three things 
is " create " used ? 6. What is the characteristic of man ? 7. In what re- 
spects is man in God's image ? 8. In what respects does the creation 
record agree with science? 9. What is the theme in Gen. i.— ii. 3; in 
Gen. ii. 4— iii. 24? 10. What fixes man's first abode? What lesson in 
the creation of Eve ? 11. What was man's moral state? 12. Trace the 
course of sin, and of return to God? 13. What the natural result of 
sin ? what the judicial penalty? 14. What the first promise of Christ ? 
15. Name the differences in Cain and Abel ? 16. Give the characteris- 
tics of the line of Cain and of Seth. 17. What corroborations of the 
deluge? 18. What the moral causes ? 19. What the means of the deluge ? 

Postdiluvian Period, — i. What was Noah's first act after leaving 
the ark? 2. State the main points in the covenant with Noah, and the 
signof the covenant ? 3. What prophecy did Noah make? 4. In what 
order did Noah's sons develop into great empires? 5. What nations 
descended from each ? 6. How was the tower of Babel opposed to God^s 
plan ? 7. Why is the line of Shem given ? 

Patriarchal Period.— What was the mission of the Hebrews? 
2. Who were the "Pilgrim Fathers" of the Hebrews? 3. What two 
main divisions of Abraham's life ? 4. Name and locate Abraham's 
birth-place. 5. State the four promises of the Abrahamic covenant : 
how was each fulfilled? 6. Who went with Abraham from Ur? 7. 
Trace his movements from Ur to Hebron. 8. Give an account of the 
Chaldean invasion. 9. Who was Abraham's second wife, and who their 
son? 10. What two signs sealed the covenant? 11. Who was saved 
from Sodom, and who were his descendants? 12. Give an account of 
Abraham's greatest trial. 13. Name the wife and sons of Isaac. 14. 
What do Jacob's two names mean ? What incidents illustrate his first 
name ? 15. What occurred in his flight to Haran ? 16. What were the 
events at Haran ? 17. How and why was his name changed? 18. How 

185 



186 AJV OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY, 

does Joseph's relation to his people di£fer from that of the earlier patri- 
archs ? 19. What the two chapters of his life ? 20. What the causes 
and eflfects of his father's favoritism ? 21. What the events of his slave 
life ? 22. What the cause and the incidents of his courtier life ? 23. 
What the historic facts of the book of Job ? 24. What the body of the 
book ; what its purpose ? 

Period of Bondage.— i. Give the three periods of Egyptian his- 
tory. 2. In which period did the Hebrews enter Egypt ? 3. In which 
period was the exodus ? 4. Who is the chief character of the bondage 
and exodus? 5. Into what three chapters is his life divided ? 6. Give 
an account of the first two. 7. What was the nature of the contest with 
Pharaoh ? 8. What the need ? 9. What the results ? 10. What three 
effects of the sojourn in Egypt ? 

Period of Wanderings.— i. What were the events on the march 
from the sea to Sinai ? 2. How long was Israel at Sinai ? 3. What cov- 
enant was here made, and how ratified? 4. Give the ten command- 
ments ? 5. Who had been priest in patriarchal times ? 6. What tribe 
was chosen now ? 7. Who became High Priest ? 8. Name and describe 
the three annual feasts. 9. Give size, divisions, and furniture of the 
tabernacle. 10. What three classes of animal offerings, and the mean- 
ing of each? 11. Describe the national apostasy at Sinai. 12. What 
gave its name to the book of Numbers ? 13. What incidents from Sinai 
to Kadesh? 14. What occurred at Kadesh? 15. What at the second 
sojourn at Kadesh ? 16. Where did Aaron die ? 17. What kings east 
of Jordan were conquered ; what tribes settled in their territory ? 18. 
What king and seer sought to curse Israel ? 19. What make up Deute- 
ronomy? 20. Where did Moses die? 

Period of Conquest. — i. Who was the new leader ? How did his 
work differ from Moses' work? 2. What river between Israel and Ca- 
naan, and how crossed ? 3. What the first camping place, and what 
occurred there ? 4. What the gateway to Jericho, and how taken ? 5, 
What the key to central Canaan ? 6. Describe Shechem, and what was 
done, there. 7. Describe the league with the Gibeonites ; what was the 
battle of the long day, and who victorious ? 8. Who headed the north- 
ern confederacy, and where defeated? 9. How was the land divided? 
10. Where was Joshua's farewell ? 

Period of Judges.— i. Summarize Israel's condition. 2. Give 
causes and consequences of their idolatry. 3. Describe the Judges. 
4. Describe the political condition. 5. What three ties held Israel to- 
gether ? 6. Name the six invasions, with the leader against each ? 7. 
Which were Israel's worst foes ? 8. Tell the story of Ruth. 9. Who 
was the most important character from Moses to David ? 10. Give a 
summary of his work. 

The United Kingdom.— i. What was the original government 
of Israel ? 2. What led to the monarchy ? 3. Who was the first king? 



APPENDIX. 187 



4. Describe liis private anointing and public election. 5. Describe the 
victory that led to his coronation. 6. Describe the battle of Michmash. 
7. What led to Saul's rejection? 8. Who was anointed in his stead? 
Describe the battle of Gilboa. 9. What were the characteristics of 
Saul's reign ? 10. State David's place in history. 11. What are the five 
epochs of his life? 12. To what village, family^ and tribe, did he be- 
long? 13. Give an account of his private anointing ? 14. Why was he 
first called to Saul's court ? 15. What led to his remaining there ? 16. 
Give an account of the second epoch. 17. What were the chief events 
of his outlaw life ? 18. What opened the way to the throne ? 19. What 
city did he make his capital ? 20. How long did he reign over Judah 
alone? 21. Who ruled over the rest of the nation? 22. What led to 
the submission of all the tribes. 23. What city was now made the cap- 
ital? 24. How extensive was David's empire? 25. What troubles in 
the latter part of his reign ; what their cause ? 26. What were the 
characteristics of his reign ? 27. Who succeeded David ? 28. What 
troubles at first ? 29. Explain his wise choice and give illustrations of 
it. 30. Give size and description of Solomon's temple. 31. With what 
countries did he trade ? 32. In what three ways did Solomon violate 
the law of the king ? 33. How did he violate the fundamental law of 
the theocracy ? 34. When does the era of prophets begin ? 35. W^hat 
literature belongs to the era of David and Solomon ? 

The Northern Kiagclom.— Give the earlier and the immediate 
causes of schism. Compare the two kingdoms in (i) territory, (2) pop- 
ulation, (3) religion, (4) stability. What are the four periods? Give 
account of Jeroboam. Who founded Samaria ? How was Baal worship 
introduced ? Give a history of Elijah. What was Jehu's work ? Who 
was the greatest king of the Northern Kingdom? Who were the lead- 
ing prophets ? What became of the Northern Kingdom ? How long 
had it stood ? 

The Southern Kingdom.— How many dynasties and centuries 
in the history of the Southern Kingdom? Give the four periods. 
Name the kings in the first. What calamity under the first ? Wlio 
were the reforming kings? What foreign invasion in Asa's reign? 
What matrimonial alliance in the next reign? Give an account of 
Athaliah. Who was the worst king in the second period? Who the 
reforming king ? What celebrated invasion in his reign ? What great 
prophet at this tim^ ? Give an account of Manasseh's reign. How old 
was Josiah at his accession? Describe his work and death. What 
great prophet in his reign ? How many kings followed Josiah ? What 
powers were they vassals of? What had become of Nineveh? What 
becomes of the Southern Kingdom ? How many successive captivi- 
ties? Give an account of each. 

Period of Exile.— What became of Jeremiah and the remnant 
with him ? Where did Daniel and his three friends go ? Give events 



188 AN- OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

in Daniel's history. Give the incident of his three friends. Where 
was Ezekiel taken? How many others? Who wrote them a letter, 
and why? 

Post-Exile Period.— What prophets foretold the return? How 
long- was the exile to last ? How many periods of return ? Who head- 
ed the first ? What work did he accomplish ? What enemies did he 
encounter ? What prophets aided him ? Who led the second return ? 
How long after the first ? What reforms did he promote ? Who was 
the last to return ? Give an account of his work. At what point in the 
history does the story of Ksther come in ? Give it. Who was the last 
Old Testament prophet ? What his closing prophecy ? How long- till 
the next prophet ? 

Interval between Old and New Testaments.— What two im- 
portant movements in these four hundred years? What the sources of 
our knowledge? Give the six periods, with dates. Give orig^in of Sa- 
maritans, and character of their religion. How did Alexander deal 
with the Jews ? What was the most noteworthy event in the third pe- 
riod ? Give an account of the fourth period. Who were the Macca- 
bees ? What did they accomplish ? What Roman general made Pales- 
tine a Roman province? Give a sketch of Herod the Great. What 
changes took place during- these centuries in (i) occupation, (2) lan- 
guage, (3) religion ? What sects arose, and w-hat their peculiarities ? 

PART SECOND.— N. T. HISTORY. 

Introduction. — What changes in the names of the land and peo- 
ple? Name and describe the five divisions of Palestine ; give chief 
cities in each. Name the Roman Emperors at (i) the birth of Christ, 
(2) during his ministry, (3) during later N. T. History. Who was the 
local ruler at Jesus' birth? W^hat provinces did he rule? Who were 
the four Tetrarchs ? what each one's Tetrarchy ? What became of 
Archelaus ? what change was made in his province? who ruled it at 
Jesus' death ? What was the kingdom of Herod Agrippa I. ? What the 
territory of Herod Agrippa II. ? 

GOSPEL HISTORY. 

Introduction.— What O. T. lines point forward to Christ? What 
N. T. lines point back to Christ? What facts show Christ to be the 
central figure in history ? What are the four sources of gospel his- 
tory ? Which of the biographers of Jesus were apostles ? Which were 
fishermen ? Which was a physician ? Which a tax collector ? Which 
wrote for Jews ? what the evidence ? Which wrote last ? What import- 
ant things did he omit ? Explain the term Synoptics. 

The Birth and Infancy. — Explain the three visions. How did 
it occur that Jesus was born at Bethlehem ? Who were first to worship 



APPENDIX. 189 



Jesus ? Who were the grcup around him in the temple ? Who came 
from the Gentile world ? What was the cause, what the reault, of Her- 
od's edict ? 

Period of Preparation.— Where was Jesus brought up ? How 
does our gospel differ from Apochryphal gospels ? What educational 
influences would Jesus enjoy ? What is the lesson of the silent years ? 
What ministry preceded that of Jesus? What prophets had foretold 
it ? What proof of John's power ? Was his preaching preparatory or 
final ? What shows it to be so ? What ordinance did he practice ? 
How did Jesus' baptism differ from ours ? How did it resemble ours ? 
Where did Jesus go after his baptism ? What is the key to his tempta- 
tion ? State the three temptations, and explain each. 

Period of Obscurity.— How long is this period? why so called? 
In what provinces was it passed ? Who has preserved the record of it ? 
Who were the first disciples ? What and where the first miracle ? 
What other city in Galilee did Jesus visit ? What two differences from 
John's ministry are noted ? In what city did Jesus begin his Judeau 
ministry? How did he begin it? Did he work any miracles there? 
Did the rulers accept him as the Messiah ? What ruler was an excep- 
tion ? Where the closing months of the Judean ministry spent ? What 
evidence that it was fruitful ? Why did Jesus leave Judea ? To what 
province did he go ? What conversation on the way ? 

The Great Galilean 3Iinistry.— How long is this period? What 
city the center? What its four characteristics? Into what five stages 
is it divided? What village did he visit first? what the result ? To 
what city did he go next? In connection with what miracles were the 
four fishermen called? How did this call differ from the earlier one ? 
What were the events of the first Sabbath in Capernaum ? What great 
tour followed ? What the general effect ? Who first began to criticize, 
and why ? What disciple made a feast for Jesus ? Why was it criti- 
cised? Who was the first person raised from the dead by Christ? 
What parenthetical miracle occurred? What distant city did Jesus 
visit at this point, and why ? What three Sabbath criticisms were 
made ? For what purpose did Jesus choose the apostles ? Name them. 
What great sermon followed? To whom, and before whom, was it 
given ? Who was the second person raised from the dead ? What mes- 
sage, and why, did John send to Jesus? What was Jesus' testimony 
concerning John ? What change did Jesus make in the form of his 
teaching, and why ? Relate the events of the night after the great day 
of parables. What famous miracle ea-,t of the sea ? What use did Je- 
sus make of the twelve? Give the circumstances of the Baptist's 
death ? What miracle is recorded in all four gospels ? What sermon 
followed? why was it a turning point? Did Jesus attend the third 
Passover of his ministry ? What new aspects of Jesus' Galilean minis- 
try in its fifth stage? What provinces were visited ? What incident 



190 AN OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY, 

in Phoenicia ? What important questions at Caesarea Philippi ? What 
the answers ? What coming event does Jesus dwell much on at this 
time ? Give an account of the transfiguration. What did it mean to 
Jesus ? what to the disciples ? 

Closing Ministry.— What events begin and close the period? 
How long is it ? What diflference between Jesus' plans and those of his 
relatives ? What the events at the Feast of Tabernacles ? Where did 
Jesus spend the two months till the Feast of Dedication ? What teach- 
ings and what new mission ? Where did Jesus go after the Feast of 
Dedication? What interrupted his ministry there? What was the 
effect at Jerusalem, of the miracle at Bethany ? Give an account of the 
character and results of the Perean ministry. What miracle and what 
conversion on the final journey to Bethany? Near what city did they 
occur ? 

The Last Week.— Give an account of the anointing at Bethany. 
How did it differ from the earlier anointing? On what day did the tri- 
umphal entry occur ? What were the causes ? Why did Jesus allow 
it ? How did he intimate the nature of his reign ? What were the 
events of Monday ? What was the last day of Jesus' public ministry ? 
What was the greatest day ? What series of questions ? What group 
of parables ? What the character of Jesus' last address in the temple ? 
What the last incident in the temple ? Where did he deliver the dis- 
course on his second advent ? What parables and scene closed the dis- 
course ? Where did Jesus spend the night? What was Judas doing? 
What do we know of Wednesday ? Give an account of the last supper, 
and events connected with it. Give an account of Gethsemane. 

The Forty Days.— j. What reasons had the disciples to expert 
Jesus' resurrection ? 2. Why did they not expect it? 3. What are the 
three essential miracles ? 4. Who were first at the sepulchre ? 5. Give 
the ten recorded appearances of Jesus in order. 6. To whom did Jesus 
give his final commission ? 7. What previous missions in the Gospels ? 
8. How did this differ ? 9. Where were they to tarry, and for what ? 
10. From what place did Jesus ascend to heaven ? 

BOOK IL— APOSTOIvIC HISTORY. 

Introduction.— I. What are the sources of apostolic history? 
What is the better title for Acts, and why ? 3. How many Epistles, 
and how many from Paul ? What three points of contrast between Gos- 
pel History and Acts? 5. Give the Four Periods covered by Acts, with 

dates ? 

Founding and Growth of Church in Jerusalem.— i. Who 

formed the nucleus of the church ? 2. Who was elected to fill Judas' 
place ? 3. What was an essential qualification of an Apostle ? 4. When 
did the Baptism of the Spirit occur? 5. What were the accompani- 



APPENDIX. 191 



ments ? 6. What the effects on the disciples ? 7. What its evidential 
value ? 8. What the effects on the multitude ? 9. What truth does Pe- 
ter's sermon establish ? 10. What are his four proofs? ii. What five 
results? 12. What was the cause of the first Jewish persecution? i^. 
What disciples were the first to die? Give the circumstances. 14. 
What was the effect of their death ? 15. How many disciples were in- 
volved in the second Jewish persecution ? 16. What part did Gamaliel 
take? 17. What was the distinction between " Hellenists " and "He- 
brews"? 18. What difficulty arose? 19. How was it settled ? 20. Who 
was the first Christian martyr? 21. What sect had been the first per- 
secutors ? 22. What sect and what man now became active ? 

Extension of Church throughout Judea and Samaria, and 
Transition to the Gentiles. — i. What people became the half-way 
house to the Gentiles? 2. Who preached to them ? 3. Who went from 
Jerusalem, and for what purpose ? 4. Give the origin and meaning of 
" Simony." 5. Give an account of the conversion of the eunuch. 6. 
What was the most vital event after Pentecost ? 7. How often told ? 8. 
Trace Paul's conversion and early labors. 9. Through what apostle 
was the transition made to the Gentiles ? 10. How were the two men 
prepared for the event? 11. How was the case viewed at Jerusalem? 
12. How did Peter defend his course? 13. What other class began to 
preach to Gentiles ? 14. What new center and leader? 15. What new 
name and where first used? 16. Who began the fourth Jewish persecu- 
tion ? 17. Who was beheaded, and who imprisoned ? 

Paul's Missionary Tours.- i. What teachers at Antioch? 2. 
How had Jerusalem become a missionary center ? how did Antioch be- 
come one? 3. Name the missionaries of the first tour, and the places 
visited? 4. Where did they convert a governor and meet a sorcerer? 
5. Where did Paul preach his first detailed sermon? 6. Where was 
Paul stoned? 7. What question arose between the first and second 
tours ; how settled? 8. What trouble between Paul and Barnabas, and 
how settled? 9. What region did Paul first visit, and what new com- 
panion did he find there? 10. What led him to Europe? 11. What 
the beginning place in Europe, and what converts there ? 12. Whom 
did Paul leave at Philippi ? 13. What places did Paul visit between • 
Philippi and Athens ? which were the more noble ? 14. Where did 
Paul preach at Athens? 15. Was his work fruitful there? 16. What 
city did Paul next visit, and how long did he remain ? 17. What diffi- 
culties at first? iS. What new friends? 19. Who joined him there? 
20. What Epistles did he write? 2r. What city did he visit on his re- 
turn trip to Antioch? 22. What city was the center of interest on the 
third tour? 23. What famous preacher visited it in Paul's absence? 24. 
Who instructed him more perfectly? 25. What Epistle did Paul write 
at Ephesus ? 26. After leaving Ephesus what provinces did Paul visit ? 
27. How long did he remain at Corinth ? 28. What letters did he write 



192 AAT OUTLINE OF BIBLE HISTORY. 

at this second sojourn there ? 29. Who joined Paul on the return voy- 
age? 30. What occurred at Troas? at Miletus? 31. What old friend 
do we meet at Caesarea ? 32. What double gift does Paul bring to Jeru- 
salem ? how was Paul received at Jerusalem ? 

Paul's Four Years' Imprisonment. — i. What two addresses 
did Paul make at Jerusalem ? 2. What addresses at Caesarea? 3. What 
led to his being sent to Rome? 4. Who were Paul's companions on 
the voyage? 5. Who had charge of him? 6. Where was the ship 
from, and how far did they sail in her? 7. What course did they take 
from Myra? 8. Give an account of the storm. 9. Where did they 
winter? 10. Where did the voyage end? 11. By what road did they 
reach Rome ? 12. Who came out to meet Paul ? 13. To what people 
did Paul always first preach ? 14. How long was Paul imprisoned at 
Rome ? 15. What Epistles did he write during that time ? 16. Among 
whom did he make converts ? 17. Who were his co-workers? 

Later Apostolic History.— i. What places did Paul visit after 
his release ? 2. What Epistles did he write ? 3. How did his second 
imprisonment compare with his first ? 4. What Epistle did he write ? 
5. Who remained with him to the last ? 6. How did he probably die ? 
7. In what year, and under what Emperor ? 8. What is the last New 
Testament allusion to Peter? 9. What parts of the New Testament 
did he write? 10. What tradition about his death ? 11. What the last 
notice of John in Acts ? 12. What books did he write ? 13. Where did 
he spend his last years ? 14. How did his death differ from that of the 
other apostles ? 15. How much is known of the other apostles? 16. 
What two other books of the New Testament, and who their authors ? 
17. What difl^rence between Gospel History and Apostolic History ? 



6i 



